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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



T-jife and Adventures of yack Philips 
Rear Admiral^ U. S. N. 





RF.A.R-AUMIRAL JOHN WOODWARD PHILIP, U. S. N. 



The Life and 
Adventures of Jack Philip 



REAR ADMIRAL, U.S.N. 
BY 



EDGAR STANTON MACLAY, A.M. 

Author of A History of the United States Navy ; A History of American 
Privateers ; Reminiscences of the Old Navy ; Life of Moses Brown, 
Captain, U.S.N. ; Editor of William Maclay's Journal ; (U. S. Senator 
from Pennsylvania, 1789-1791); and Editor of Samuel MacUy's Diary j 
(U. S. Senator from Pennsylvania, 1 802-1 809) 



Assisted by BARRETT PHILIP 

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY 

ALFRED THAYER MAHAN, Captain U.S.N. 

(rbtirbd) 

AND 

PHILIP'S OWN STORY OF SANTIAGO 



SECOND EDITION 
RE-WRITTEN AND REVISED 



3(IUttfl;trateD 



AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY 

150 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK 



Two c^Bies Swrtved 

3tP 21 1904 

CLASS ^ XXo. No. 
COPY B 






Copyright, 1904 
By American Tract Society 



To the Memory of that 

Gallant Seaman and Christian Gentleman, 

REAR-ADMIRAL JOHN WOODWARD PHILIP, U.S.N., 

This Work is Respectfully 

Dedicated. 



Friendships are beacon lights illuminating our pathway through 
life — and the longer they burn the brighter they become. Happy 
the man who can pursue his journey to the end without his pathway 
being darkened by the extinguishment of one of these lights ! " 

Francis John Higginson, 
Rear-Admiral, U. S. N. 



Executive /Ransion 
Masblngton 

September i, 1900. 

Admiral Philip's distinguished service in the war with 
Spain won for him a high place in the regard and affection 
of the American people and was a fitting climax to his many 
years of duty faithfully and most efficiently performed. 

His untimely death will he long regretted, not only by those 
who were intimate with his sterling character and genial 
personality, but by all to whom his name and fame were 
known. 

WILLIAM McKINLEY. 



PREFACE TO THE NEW EDITION 

When the " Life and Adventures of Jack Philip 
— Admiral, U. S. N.," was published, 1903, it was 
not anticipated that the demand for the work would 
extend (to any considerable extent) beyond profes- 
sional circles and the Immediate friends of the late 
Admiral. Consequently, a limited edition was 
printed; and no plates were made. The reception of 
the Memorial, however, has been so cordial that It 
has been found advisable to revise the whole work 
so as to present It in permanent book form. 

In doing this, the writer has endeavored to retain, 
in substance, the articles so kindly contributed by the 
Admiral's brother officers and friends — although, 
necessarily (in the new form of continuous narrative, 
adopted for this second edition), the individuality of 
the several writers is, to a large extent, lost. It Is 
believed that by pursuing this method of treating the 
material In hand, a more desirable form of biography 
Is obtained. In every instance where extracts are 

5 



6 PREFACE TO NEW EDITION 

made, however, due credit to the writer of the article 
is given.^ 

Captain Mahan's masterly Introduction, of course, 
Is preserved intact; also the late President McKin- 
ley's epigraph, and Philip's Own Story of the San- 
tiago Sea Fight, which has become a document of 
historical value. Philip's journal of a three years' 
cruise in the Far East is of interest at this time as 
It contains descriptions of scenes In the Philippines, 
China, Japan and Corea. Their value Is enhanced 
by the Induction of simple, though serviceable, maps. 
This journal has been, to some extent, condensed but. 
It Is believed, that all Its salient features of general 
Interest have been retained. Philip was among the 
first American naval officers to visit Corea. 

In conclusion, the writer begs to acknowledge the 
very handsome support the Memorial has received 

* The articles referred to were written by William McKinley, 
our martyr President ; Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, U. S. N. ; 
John Davis Long, ex-Secretary of the Navy; Mary Philip 
Wheelock, sister of Admiral Philip ; Chaplains David Howard 
Tribou and Robert Edward Steele, U. S. N. ; Henry Brown 
Floyd Macfarland, President of the Board of Commissioners for 
the District of Columbia ; Admirals William Thomas Sampson, 
George Beall Balch, Francis John Higginson, Henry Clay Taylor 
and Francis Tiffany Bowles ; Chief Engineer Edward Biddle 
Latch, U. S. N. ; Captain Daniel Delehanty, U. S. N. ; Lieutenant 
Francis J. Haeseler, U. S. N. ; William Myers Hoes, Public Ad- 
ministrator for New York City; and Marcus H. Rogers, of 
Massachusetts. 



FROM DEWEY, DOWN 7 

from the navy; from Admiral Dewey down to those 
in the lowest ratings whose contribution of the sub- 
scription price made an appreciable diminution in 

their scanty pay. 

E. S. M. 

New York, May, 1904. 



EXPLANATORY NOTE 

There have been few officers in the United States 
navy whose careers have been so nearly ideal as that 
of John Woodward Philip. His life-long devotion 
to duty, his conscientious carrying-on of routine in 
the many dreary years of peace, his entire innocence 
of newspaper press bureaus or politico-social in- 
fluence, his superb conduct in battle, his modest, 
sailor-like acknowledgments of the plaudits of his 
countrymen and, more than all, his beautiful Chris- 
tian character have peculiarly endeared him to the 
American people. As a standard of naval excel- 
lence for the emulation of younger officers, the ca- 
reer of Philip is unsurpassed and cannot fail of 
beneficial results. 

To know Jack Philip — as he always will be 
affectionately known by those close to him — was to 
love him; and, perhaps, the grandeur of his charac- 
ter is nowhere shown to better advantage than in his 
private letters and diary in which he unconsciously 
displays the full brilliancy of his soul. It is gener- 

9 



10 EXPLANATORY NOTE 

ally supposed — and to some extent true — that a 
diary is merely a monotonous entry of dates, condi- 
tions of the weather and other matters of purely in- 
dividual interest. An exception must be made in 
the case of Philip. His private papers are replete 
with observations of the keenest human interest, 
while his sense of humor — so characteristic of the 
man — bubbles through all his writings, rendering 
them in the highest degree readable. In his journal 
of a cruise in the Far East, 1865-68, are many in- 
cidents of historic value, his landing on Chinese soil 
and capture of the notorious outlaw, Hon, easily 
ranking with the most brilliant of our " lesser " naval 
exploits. 

As a means of presenting these valuable records in 
the most readable form, the somewhat unusual plan 
of having the main narrative illuminated, here and 
there, by " cross-lights " from the pens of those who 
knew Philip best, has been adopted. The writer 
desires to acknowledge the great assistance he has re- 
ceived from Barrett Philip. To him belongs the 
credit for the conception of this work. 

There has been some dispute as to the precise 
wording of Philip's now famous exclamation at the 
naval battle of Santiago : " Don't cheer, men; those 



A FAMOUS EXPRESSION ii 

poor fellows are dying! " In some popular accounts 
the word " devils " is substituted for *' fellows." It 
has been the privilege of the writer to read through 
the private papers of Philip for a period extending 
over forty years, and nowhere does the word " devil " 
or any approach to harsh speech appear. It is 
highly inferential, therefore, that Philip, on this su- 
preme occasion, was not guilty of any looseness of 
expression. 

On the other hand, it is stoutly maintained by some 
competent to speak authoritatively, that Philip did 
use the word " devils," and as the weight of opinion 
seems to be on the last rendering of this famous 
expression, it has been adopted in this work. 

New York, April, 1903. 

E. S. M. 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

List of Illustrations 23 

Introduction by Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, U. S. N. 
(retired) 25 

CHAPTER I. 

BOYHOOD DAYS. 

His ideas of honor and truth — Aggressive honesty — Phil- 
ip's contagious laugh — It frequently gets him into trouble 
at school — Miss Philipse and George Washington — 
Philip's Dutch and Puritanical ancestry — Brought up to 
the Dutch tongue — Early boyish pranks — Dislike for 
" fuss and feathers " — Assumes command in an emer- 
gency — In a neighbor's orchard — Early religious trait . 41 

CHAPTER II. 

AT ANNAPOLIS. 

"Appointing himself" to Annapolis — The lost letter and 
where it was found — Arrival of newcomers at the na- 
val school — Strange " sights " that drifted in — Philip 
at once becomes popular — Shyness in women's company 
— Outwitting a professor — "Marching" into a river — 
Severity of the discipline — Nearly dismissed for demerit 
marks — His meerschaum pipe — As an expert at " blow- 
ing rings " 52 

13 



14 CONTENTS 

CHAPTER III. 

HIS FIRST TASTE OF WAR, 

FAGS 

Aboard the grand old Constitution — Defending that ship — 
A thorough seaman — His kindness to under oflBcers — 
On different ships in the civil war — An impromptu ex- 
hibition of rare seamanship — Hot work before Charles- 
ton — The Paumee hit forty-six times in one battle — Al- 
though wounded, Philip keeps up the fight — A shower 
of splinters — A post bellum anecdote of the fight — She 
wanted to see an officer of the " Hateful old Pawnee " — 
And she did 6i 

CHAPTER IV. 

HIS FIRST LONG CRUISE. 

Ordered to the Wachusett — A sister to the famous Kear- 
sarge — The Wachusett-Florida affair — Its peculiar re- 
sults in the Wachusett' s cruise — Daily peril of sailors at 
sea — List of the Wachusett's officers — Guessing as to the 
ship's probable return home — Philip's fighting capacity 

— Getting ready for sea — " Spirits very much depressed" 

— Eager to be off — Wail of an executive officer ... 70 

CHAPTER V. 

ON A SECRET MISSION OF WAR. 

"All hands up anchor" — Heading the ship seaward — 
Many prostrated by seasickness — Philip never seasick — 
Yes, but very homesick — Clearing St. George's Bank — 
Demand for the man who wrote " Life on the Ocean 
Wave" — First exercise of the crew — Fair weather puts 
all in good spirits — " Lonely sea life " — Rumors about 
the Shenandoah — In high hopes of falling in with her — 
Getting into " real hot weather " — Sunday in a war ship 
at sea — A beautiful scene — Seeking the trade winds — 
Struck them at last — Cleaning the store rooms — Punish- 



CONTENTS 15 

PAGE 

ing the " blacklisters " — " Quite a large waterspout " — 

Land ho ! 78 

CHAPTER VI. 

AT MARTINIQUE. 

Philip's attachment to his ship — On the scene of many 
naval battles — Grandeur of the scenery — At anchor oflf 
Fort St. Louis — French officials kindly permit the Wa- 
chusett to remain for repairs — Surrounded by " bum- 
boats " — Official call on the Governor — His beautifully 
laid out grounds — A Yankee horse and buggy — Curious 
scenes on shore — Visit to a French war ship — Sight-see- 
ing — A Shenandoah scare — Preparation for immediate 
action — Philip's ability to read character — " Me no 
speakee English " — Coaling at Martinique — A singular 
but eflFective method — Attending an official dinner at the 
French Governor's — "A pure French dinner in the best 

style." 90 

CHAPTER Vn. 

TWO SERIOUS PREDICAMENTS. 

Talking with the Alahamc^s pilot — Report of three Con- 
federate cruisers lying in wait — Ready to fight Confed- 
erate cruisers — " We run hard and fast on rocks " — 
In a critical position — Kindness of the French and Eng- 
lish — Floated off again — Damages — Meeting old friends 

— Descriptions of St. Pierre — Lady visitors — Another se- 
rious predicament — Glorious news from the United States 100 

CHAPTER Vni. 

ACROSS THE ATLANTIC. 

Philip a delightful fellow traveler — Sailing from St. Pierre 

— Beautiful ocean scenery — Very strong trade winds — 
Atmospheric changes — " Rolling very deep " — Striking 
the " variables " — Picking up a bottle in mid-ocean — 
A beautiful rainbow — Heavy weather — A beautiful Sun- 
day at sea — " Jilting the variables " 109 



i6 CONTENTS 

CHAPTER IX. 

CAPE DE VERDES, 

PAGE 

Entering port — Washington's Head — Coaling under difficul- 
ties — A mongrel population — News of Lincoln's assass- 
ination — Rumors of war with England — Excellent tar- 
get practice — Good-by to Port Grande — Arrival at Port 
Praya — Philip's bluntness — His fondness for the Amer- 
ican " Tea Table " — Sad condition of the natives at Port 
Fraya — "Twenty thousand starved to death last year" — 
Dropping dead in the streets — Another Shenandoah scare 

— As an expert horseback rider Ii8 

CHAPTER X. 

UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS. 

Loss of an anchor — Its serious consequences — Tedious de- 
lays — St. Anthony with his " feet up " — Superstitious 
seamen — " We gave up the lost anchor and sailed " — The 
Wachusett's ill-luck — What hot weather really is — 
"Crossing the line" — An amusing ceremony — Philip 
pays his fine — "A monkey overboard 1" 130 

CHAPTER XI. 

UNDE» A LEE SHORE. 

Real troubles begin — Under a "lee shore" — A short food 
supply — "Our men were getting hungry" — A change of 
programme — Almost a mutiny — Trying to intercept pro- 
vision ships — " Only one day's coal on board " — Struck 
by a pampero — An appalling situation — A terrific gale — 
No land in sight — Forced to put into a Brazilian port 

— A peculiar situation — An abrupt departure of Brazil- 
ian officials — An all-night struggle to get provisions for 

a starving ship's company 138 



CONTENTS 17 

CHAPTER XII. 

AT RIO DE JANEIRO. 

PAGE 

The Wachusett restored to grace — City of Our Lady of 
Solitude — Philip's " never " — Recoaling — A bewilder- 
ment of legal holidays — The Wachusett's consolation — A 
lady in the case — An unsolicited " ducking " — " Some 
Brazilian princess" — Birthday of the Queen of Portu- 
gal — "The Emperor's new son-in-law" — "Another Bra- 
zilian princess" — "A little jaunt to Petropolis " — 
Magnificent mountain scenery — Breakfast at the Mc- 
Dowall House 148 

CHAPTER XIII. 

EASTWARD HO ! 

Good-by to Rio de Janeiro — Simon's Bay — Neat appear- 
ance of the town — Some English target practice — In 
Table Bay — Few repairs — A trip into the interior — 
Philip an enthusiastic Mason — Gets many naval officers 
into the order — A Masonic dinner — Arrival of the 
Hartford — Full swing of social functions — A picnic 
"out in the country" — The Hartford outsails the Wa- 
chusett — A singular phenomenon — " The strangest night 
I ever experienced" — A dismal Christmas and New 
Year's — Batavia — "Very dark and thick" — "The ever- 
lasting dollar " — Batavia and its inhabitants as they 
seemed to Philip — " Everybody rides in carriages " — 
How the Sabbath is not kept holy — Departure from Ba- 
tavia — A Yankee by the name of Moses in Borneo — 
"The Rajah of Ambong" — Speaking under difficulties 

— "A city of fifty small huts " — Impressing the natives 

— Off for Manila — " Manila is going to the dogs " — 
Put out at the bayonet's point — Arrival at Hong Kong . 156 

CHAPTER XIV. 

CAPTURING A BAND OF OUTLAWS. 

First letter from home — Macao as Philip saw it ^— The 
Wachusett's " boys " appall the old Governor — A visit to 



1 8 CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Canton — A jolly party in sedan chairs — In the "cat, 
dog and rat market" — Return to Hong Kong — "Man 
overboard 1 " — A desperate struggle in a wild sea — 
" Running over" a pirate junk — On the scene of trouble 

— Captain Townsend an officer of decision — An armed 
escort — Chinese "promises" — A fatal river experience 

— Threat to " murder all foreigners " — Inspecting the 
land pirates' headquarters — Landing a large detach- 
ment of men — "We were received in some state" — 
" Foreign white devils " — A midnight expedition — Sur- 
rounding the land pirates — Capture of their leader and 
his two sons — A Chinese criminal trial — Tortures — Ex- 
tracting testimony by torture — The prisoners " confess " 
— " Old Cheung much worried " — Release of the cap- 
tives 169 

CHAPTER XV. 

BUSY ON WAR-LIKE ERRANDS. 

At Teng-Chan-Fu — Marching into a walled city — " Heads 
of three Chinamen in cages over the gate to awe us " — 
But they didn't awe — All the authorities fled — Dealing 
with an " unofficial city " — Chasing the authorities — In 
a "tremendous current" — Expedition up the Yangtse — 
Sudden death of Captain Townsend — Arrival at Yoko- 
hama, Japan — Formal procession to Yeddo — Ordered 
back to China — In a terrific typhoon — Strange electrical 
phenomena — Superb scenery of the Inland Sea — Cleared 
for action — Attacks by Chinese pirates — Pirates waiting 
for the Parsee — "Captain Shufeldt's Chinese card" — 
The Wachusett sent to Corea for " satisfaction " — Massa- 
cre of the General Sherman's crew — No charts — Philip's 
Islet — Corean mandarin entrapped in a network of false- 
hoods — Shufeldt's warning — Overrun with Coreans — 
Return to China — "He thought the United States was 
a small place " — Undeceived — The Wachusett saves a 
city — The missionaries at Foo Chow — Philip's bitter dis- 



CONTENTS 19 



appointment — His transfer to the Hartford — A typhoon 

— "It was a frightful night" — Dragging with three an- 
chors down — Opening a Japanese port — Tragic death of 
Admiral Bell and eleven men — The homeward-bound 
voyage again postponed — Philip's submission to duty — 
Homeward-bound, at last 182 

CHAPTER XVI. 

" IN PIPING TIMES OF PEACE." 

Philip as an executive officer — Difficulties of the position — 
An illustration — Always popular with the men — The 
episode with Da Gama — Philip's tact — Splendid disci- 
pline in the Richmond — "Go 'way, Dago; Go 'way" — 
Return to the Asiatic squadron — Service in the Pacific 
Mail Steamship Company — A position of peculiar nice- 
ty — The " Woodruff Scientific Expedition " — In com- 
mand at a picnic — Some amusing anecdotes — Survey- 
ing the west coast of Mexico — Preferring a " fine lady to 
a fine ship" — His marriage — "Philip disappeared over 
the other side " — "I haven't changed my mind " . . 197 

CHAPTER XVII. 

REFORMING A " HOODOO " SHIP. 

On the Pacific Slope — Superintending the building of the 
New York — " Read more Scripture to them " — The Bra- 
zilian revolution — "Clear ship for action" — Working 
on Sunday — Philip's self-denial — Unfortunate reputa- 
tion of the Texas — Captain Delehanty persuades Philip 
to apply for her command — Philip ordered to the Texas 

— Lieutenant Haeseler's splendid work — Philip's democ- 
racy — News of the sinking of the Maine — Philip's sud- 
den change of mind when he heard of the disaster — Ur- 
gent repairs in the Texas — Cutting " red tape " — A lady 
who said " good-by to the Huron " — Preparedness of the 
Texas — Her " slowness of fire " — Its remedy . . . 212 



20 CONTENTS 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

BEFORE SANTIAGO. 

PAGE 

Philip and the Texas — " In the long dreary days of block- 
ade " — Philip and Higginson — An accidental shot — A 
wig- wag message — Bombardment of Santiago — Casual- 
ties of the enemy — Effect on the Spaniards — A " whole- 
some dread " — " Don't fight on the Sabbath " — Sampson 
postpones attack until Monday — "Cleaning out Guanta- 
namo harbor " — A narrow escape from mines — Gallant 
conduct of the Texas — Narrow escape of her officers — 
One of the "Incidents of the war" — Philip was not 
"dead" — Brilliant attack of the Texas — "All we want 
is plenty of 6-inch common shell " 222 

CHAPTER XIX. 
Philip's own story of Santiago. 

"The weary days of waiting" — "Were you afraid?" — 
The strain of blockade duty — On the morning of July 
3d — "I was half way up the steps" — A tremendous rush 
— "Pumping shells" — Naval Cadet Reynolds — "As the 
Spanish squadron steamed proudly past " — " As gaily as 
brides to the altar" — "Where are our battle flags?" — 
As the smoke lifted — The Brooklyn and Texas nearly in 
collision — "Back both engines hard" — "I have always 
wanted to fool that woman " — " Shells screaming about 
our ears " — A fortunate change of position — " Firing 
only when a good target could be plainly seen " — "I re- 
member pitching up in the air with my coat tails flying 
out behind me " — A disastrous shell in the Texas — Fir- 
ing at the destroyers — " The men in the engine and fire 
rooms working like beavers" — "Cease firing" — "Wili- 
est of all the Spanish vessels " — " For two hours this 
grim and silent chase was pursued " 234 



CONTENTS 21 

CHAPTER XX. 

A HAPPY RETURN HOME. 

PAGE 

At the Dewey parade — " His modesty, simplicity and cour- 
tesy" — "Frank and interesting" — "There's Jack Phil- 
ip!" — Speaking at the Naval Academy — An embarrass- 
ing ordeal — Addressing a large audience — "Duty to 
God" — "The eternal verities" — His dislike at remain- 
ing in Washington — Some tars make Philip an umpire 
in a dispute 255 

CHAPTER XXI. 

PHILIP AND THE NAVAL Y. M. C. A. 

His interest in Christian work — Efforts to better the con- 
dition of sailors — Dread of public notice — " It will be my 
duty, no matter how unpleasant" — Admiral Bunce's in- 
dorsement of the naval Y. M. C. A. — His beginning of 
the work — Philip's providential assignment to the New 
York Navy Yard — His name a tower of strength — In- 
teresting wealthy citizens in the project — Call on Seth 
Low — Selecting a suitable building — A successful open- 
ing — Enlisting Miss Gould's aid — Our Admiral . . 264 

CHAPTER XXII. 

LAST DAYS. 

A remarkable home-coming reception — Considered as a 
candidate for Governor of New York — Gift from the 
Sunday School Children of Texas — Promoted to rank 
of Commodore — Declining health — A Rear-Admiral, at 
last — Suffering from heart disease — A serious stroke — 
A gallant rally — Medical consultation — Unselfish, even 
unto death — Last moments — Funeral services — Cere- 
monies at Annapolis 274 



22 CONTENTS 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

CONCLUSION. 

PACK 

Philip typical of many naval officers — He improved his 
" opportunity " — Preparing for activity in dull years of 
inactivity — " Kept the faith and made a good fight " — 
Long preparation for emergency — Sudden death of Cap- 
tain Townsend — Philip's broad-mindedness — Never 
" held in a grudge " — His dominating patriotism — Su- 
perior to his religious fervor — Innocent of " wire-pull- 
ing " — Sought for good, rather than bad, in all — A 
Christian gentleman 280 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 



Rear-Admiral John Woodward Philip, U 



Annapolis Naval Academy 

Midshipman Philip 

Scene of Philip's Cruises in the Atlantic 

U. S. S. Wachusett Under All Sail 

Captain Robert Townsend, U. S. N. 

A Group of the Wachusett' s Officers 

Captain Philip, U. S. N. 

Scene of Philip's Cruise in the Far East 

U. S. S. Texas .... 

Officers of the Texas . 

The Searchlight Aboard the Texas 

Effect of a Spanish Shell in the Texas 

•* Back Both Engines Hard ! " 

Mrs. John Woodward Philip . 

Funeral Procession in the New York Navy Yard 

23 



S. N. Frontispiece ■'■^ 



Opposite page 52 

66 ^ 
80 i/- 
96 

no - 
130 ^ 
150 
172 
190 
210 
220 
232 
244 
260 
278 



INTRODUCTION 

BY 

captain alfred thayer mahan, u. s. n. 
(retired.) 

One of the first impressions made upon an ob- 
servant reader, by the articles which form part of this 
work, can scarcely fail to be how much of interesting 
incident, pathetic, amusing, characteristic, what not, 
must appear in the common daily life of any man if 
it were only duly recorded; but which most often 
passes away with him and is lost, unless some unusual 
circumstances, as in the case of Admiral Philip, lead 
to a collection of reminiscences, before the deaths of 
those in whose memories they lie hid shall have cov- 
ered the man's career with a veil of almost total 
oblivion. 

Admiral Philip, however, was not an ordinary 
man. That he had a strongly marked personality, 
as well as a varied experience of life, is sufficiently 
testified, even to the most casual reader of the fol- 

25 



26 CAPT. MAHAN'S INTRODUCTION. 

lowing sketches. Written, as these are, by many 
different persons, each cannot fail to emphasize from 
his own point of view those particular traits of char- 
acter, or those special incidents, which his own in- 
dividuality has made him most quick to appreciate; 
but, nevertheless, the common humanity which under- 
lies all our superficial diversities will also give its own 
coloring to each narrative. The uniformity of im- 
pression hence resulting, the unpremeditated accord 
of many witnesses, will give assurance of the broad 
outlines defining the man's character, of the basis of 
principle and belief upon which conduct rested, of 
the nature, original or modified, which showed itself 
spontaneously when any special call elicited an ex- 
ternal manifestation of the inner spirit that made him 
what he was; when, as It were, out of the abundance 
of the heart the very man himself has spoken, whether 
by uttered word or by silent deed. 

I suppose that, with so many independent narra- 
tives placed in my hands, with the request to prepare 
an introduction to them, it is proper that I should 
contribute — not reminiscences of my own but — an 
attempt, at least, to gather into one the result of the 
recollections and of the traits of character presented 
by the other writers. To this, and to this only, in 



A STRONG PERSONALITY 27 

the scheme of a memorial to Philip, could my rela- 
tions to his life at all summon me; for, while I knew 
him for over forty years, and always on terms of 
pleasantest intimacy when we met, our association 
was ever interrupted and infrequent. Except for 
the three months of practice cruise, in 1857, during 
the summer after we both entered the Naval Acad- 
emy, we never sailed in the same ship and, only for 
brief intervals were even in the same squadron. I 
have, indeed, my own clear and vivid sense of his 
personality, for he was not a man to glide smoothly 
over one's consciousness, even in a brief interview, 
and to leave no abiding trace on the memory; his 
glance, face and speech, keen and trenchant as a razor, 
were equally incisive and immediate in the effect pro- 
duced. One understood something about him at 
once, and much more than is generally gathered about 
the average man in an even longer period ; but it was 
not my privilege to enjoy with him that continued 
intimacy, in virtue of which one can at last say that 
he knows his fellow. 

Philip was fortunate in the choice, or chance, of 
his profession. Whatever in ultimate analysis was 
the ground-work of his native character, he found 
himself at once thoroughly at home and at ease in 



28 CAPT. MAHAN'S INTRODUCTION 

the seaman's calling. I remember that even in that 
early cruise, 1857, when probably he first saw the 
sea — for he came from inland — there was a happy 
forwardness about him in all the workings of the ship 
that showed he was enjoying himself. Whatever 
was going on, if you remembered anything about it 
afterward, you were pretty sure to remember also 
Philip's face, keen and smiling among the throng. 
He stood out among others by dint of the constant 
repetition with which the eye seemed ever involun- 
tarily to light upon him, and simply because he was 
always there where the weight of the work fell; at 
the bunt in furling, at the earring in reefing and close 
to the block in a heavy drag. He was not one to be 
found " walking away with the deck," unless condi- 
tions justified the indulgence in practical humor — 
which was not the least developed of his character- 
istics. 

This early fondness for the sea remained always. 
Coupled with the diffidence in women's company 
which so strongly marked him, and which is men- 
tioned by more than one of the writers following, it 
prevented for many years the intrusion into his affec- 
tions of the rival, whose demoralizing influence the 
profession in all ages has been prompt to recognize. 



"ALL FOR THE SERVICE " 29 

The droll story told of Philip in Captain Delehanty's 
paper is the echo of Lord St. Vincent a century ago, 
" When a man marries, he Is ruined for the service; " 
and the remark was certainly not original with St. 
Vincent. There is in this, doubtless, a certain amount 
of humorous exaggeration ; yet there are few officers 
who have not known cases where it was Hterally true, 
and all have seen in many instances the weakening 
effects of the struggle between the two masters — the 
home and the profession — which is, perhaps, of all 
hardships the one most peculiar to the naval career. 
Philip married comparatively late In life; and hence, 
for many years, while habit was hardening Into char- 
acter, he ran his naval race in the light of a single 
eye, undistracted by cross-lights and unimpeded by 
external cares. His heart was in his command, and 
nowhere else; he had at that time what Marryat 
called " the bad taste to prefer a fine ship to a fine 
lady." Thus it happened that, beyond almost all 
men of his time, he was recognized as typically the 
seaman; not merely In professional capacity, for there 
he had many rivals, but in that strong personal identi- 
fication and attachment which have found definition 
In the forcible old phrase — " All for the service." 
Under these circumstances, It would be expected 



30 CAPT. MAHAN'S INTRODUCTION 

that the finer type of naval character would develop 
freely in him and become predominant ; and so it was. 
Those traits which the consensus of professional opin- 
ion — the best qualified critics — has pronounced to 
be foremost in the equipment of a seaman and an 
officer, were prominent in him. First of all, the sense 
of duty, the tendency to foster which is one of the 
highest and most distinctive privileges of a profession 
which has many drawbacks to overweigh. 

The sobering, yet stimulating, effect of responsi- 
bility is doubtless felt in every profession, and receives 
noble illustration in all; but the comparatively small 
inducements which the prospects of the naval pro- 
fession offer for the play of self-interest throws men 
back, in the many moments of monotonous weari- 
ness, almost wholly upon the sense of duty as the 
sufficient incentive to action, until the constant repe- 
tition of willing obedience to its dictates results in 
habit practically unconscious. So, too, in the visible 
reliance and utter dependence of the small ship family 
upon the fidelity of each member to his allotted func- 
tion in the organization, are so constantly obvious in 
the exigencies of sea life, that obligation cannot be 
ignored as easily as it can In occupations where a 
man's relations to others, and the effect of his action 



HIS ENVIRONMENT 31 

upon their welfare, are less immediately and less con- 
stantly evident. It Is easy to forget that which is not 
under one's eyes; but In the narrow life of a ship 
no permanent condition can long remain out of sight, 
or be thrust out of mind, as the homes of the rich can 
forget the slums. And hence, also. It is that the 
superior can enforce unpleasant tasks and, as It were, 
excuse his own insistence upon them by the same ap- 
peal to duty, knowing that not only It cannot be re- 
sisted but that also It relieves him from the imputa- 
tion of Inconslderateness to which a distasteful order 
is apt to give rise. The feeling, therefore, is all 
pervasive, thoroughly mutual and. In its action. In- 
cessant. 

That Philip was swayed and characterized by this 
motive was, therefore, not singular nor especially 
distinctive. It was part of his training, of his en- 
vironment, something he shared with many others; 
a trait professional as well as individual, differing 
from man to man not in kind but in degree, according 
to natural temperament and faithful observance. But 
what was distinctive in him — although not, we may 
thankfully say, distinctive of him alone — was the 
mighty working of this same characteristic under 
conditions where there lay no obligation of duty, 



32 CAPT. M ARAN'S INTRODUCTION 

narrowly considered; no professional obligation, but 
that only of conscience consecrated to the Divine 
Service and illumined by the new light which Chris- 
tianity sheds upon man's relations to his fellows. 

The service which he did to the poorer among these 
sprang not only from a nature originally compas- 
sionate and kindly — for such is often combined with, 
if not even the result of, an easy good humor, as 
averse to exertion as it is to severity. It was not so 
with him, although by temperament and in practice 
he certainly inclined more to indulgence than to harsh- 
ness. I remember once that we were both members 
of a court-martial in a case of very aggravated mis- 
conduct, and after sentence a recommendation to the 
superior authority in favor of mitigation of the pen- 
alty was proposed. I declined to join in it, where- 
upon Philip turned to me and said, " The Saviour 
forgave." The argument did not convince me, but 
it was illustrative of his temperamental mildness of 
character as well as of the control his Christian belief 
exercised over his action; and that control was one 
which worked not only in accordance with native 
disposition, as In the incident narrated, but against it 
when need was, constraining him in his later life to 
combat and subdue that retiring shyness which so 



" HIS CHRISTIAN CONVICTION " 33 

markedly characterized him, and which is in a way 
one of the most incapacitating of influences. It 
seems so small a matter, and withal so creditable a 
frame of mind; it so readily counterfeits modesty that 
a man easily dignifies by that epithet a weak acquies- 
cence in inaction, an abandonment and withdrawal 
of himself from exertion which it is a duty to make. 

This duty his Christian conviction and allegiance 
enabled Philip both to recognize and to perform, at 
whatever cost. It Is needless to enlarge upon the 
painful acceptance of public appearance, the reluc- 
tant forwardness with which he entered into, and 
against strong natural repulsion carried out, the ap- 
peals, personal or general, which it fell to him to 
make for that beneficent undertaking, the great build- 
ing in the neighborhood of the New York Navy 
Yard, for the housing and entertainment of naval 
seamen when on leave from their ships. Enough 
about this subject is said by those who follow me. 
The work itself is a monument of the benevolence 
of a Christian woman whose name will live in con- 
nection with It; but not least among the strong foun- 
dations of the enterprise was the sustained sacrifice 
of natural inclination which Philip made during those 
two closing years of his life. 



34 CAPT. MAHAN'S INTRODUCTION 

Nor should there be overlooked the immense help 
that derived to the undertaking from the general rec- 
ognition of his strong professional character. All 
know the ready sneer, or where sneer is absent, the 
doubting shrug of incredulity which often meets the 
proposal to make a strong and prolonged effort to 
uplift a class of men, or to place them under condi- 
tions more favorable to moral growth. Nothing so 
effectually meets and disposes of the vague and im- 
palpable, yet stubborn, resistance, which such in- 
credulity opposes, as the " assurance of a man " at the 
back of the movement; and there were few in the 
service so universally known for a combination of 
virile efficiency with true kind heartedness and piety. 

The dependence upon God which Philip openly 
avowed was not by any one understood to mean that 
he had not confidence in his own ability to contribute 
man's part — to do what a seaman could and should; 
nor did others doubt that he had a seaman's capacity 
to do a seaman's work. His reputation stood him 
in stead there; and so likewise when he proposed to 
further an effort which had for its object the bettering 
of the condition of seamen on shore, the facilitating 
their leading a happier life, more sober, more pure, 
more comfortable, it was not forgotten that his ad- 



NATURALLY A LEADER 35 

ministrative capacity, energy and tact, as well as his 
sailor-like qualities, had given him also the reputa- 
tion of one of the best Erst lieutenants — executive 
officers — of his day. There was no disposition to 
belittle as impractical any scheme which Philip in- 
dorsed by his active support. 

His sympathy, in short, dignified the effort by 
identifying it with a man whose reputation, personal 
and professional, rested on the firm foundations of es- 
tablished character, consistent with itself, understood 
and known by all who belonged to the service of his 
choice. Naturally a leader to his men, through his 
well-tried professional competency, and through their 
experience of his just, firm and yet considerate rule, 
he readily led them to look on what he did, as in the 
instance before us, with a trust and a favor not al- 
ways extended to efforts equally well-meant, but which 
the natural misgivings of the seaman induces him to 
fear may tend to commit him to a degree of good- 
ness greater than he is yet prepared to accept. They 
knew that Philip would not go further than to open 
to them surroundings of decency and comfort, leav- 
ing these to work their natural results according to 
the disposition of each man; and that he would not 
compromise their acceptance by any of the misplaced 



36 CAPT. MAHAN'S INTRODUCTION 

urgencies of indiscreet zeal, eager to force the ripen- 
ing of fruit before its due season. Among the many 
hindrances to the progress of a good work among 
men like seamen the fear of such indiscretion is one 
of the greatest, and is often a strong instrument in 
the hands of those who withstand good because they 
have a personal interest in evil. To remove such 
impression the support of Philip — and, it must in 
merest justice be added, that of the other officers 
imbued with the like spirit and trusted like him — 
powerfully contributed. 

It was from the midst of work of this character, 
unobtrusive but not undistinguished, that Philip was 
called away; two years, nearly to a day, after his last 
battle, which may be considered to have terminated 
his active service afloat. Of the part taken by his 
ship, the Texas, in that action, he has fortunately left 
us a memorial, told In terms the incisive charms of 
which, with their occasional racy expression, bear dis- 
tinctive marks of his personality. Strongly illustrative 
of these characteristics is the brief mention of the 
imminent threatening collision between the Texas and 
the Brooklyn, as the latter loomed suddenly before 
his eyes through the smoke when she was describing 
her since celebrated loop. Few In the profession will 



THANKSGIVING TO GOD 37 

be found to question the probable accuracy of Philip's 
judgment of the situation, and that his quick appre- 
ciation and instant seaman-like action averted the 
chance of a collision, which, had it occurred, would 
have marred the glory of the day, and, by materially 
reducing our force, might have rendered success most 
incomplete — even if it had not converted an occa- 
sion of rejoicing into one of general mourning. 
There are many certainly who could and would have 
acted with equal accuracy and promptitude, but this 
also we can assuredly say, that in this incident, little 
noted because all ended well, Philip not only con- 
tributed directly to the success of the day, but showed 
an adequacy to unexpected emergency which surprised 
no one; simply because his professional reputation 
stood so high. 

For the rest he tells us much of the ship and some- 
what of his own experiences — of what he under- 
went — but is silent on those more strictly personal 
actions which others, fortunately, have preserved to 
us. His gathering of the ship's company after the 
battle for silent thanksgiving has high professional 
precedent; Nelson did the like after the battle of the 
Nile. The completeness of our success at Santiago, 
and the comparative immunity of our fleet from in- 



38 CAPT. MAHAN'S INTRODUCTION 

jury, either to ship or men, permitted an immediate 
spontaneous demonstration such as Philip made, dif- 
fering therein from the more dehberate method of the 
English Admiral. But the interesting feature in 
both cases is the indication how close under the sur- 
face, how real and how operative, was the feeling of 
dependence, and of its correlative thankfulness, that 
so naturally and immediately broke out Into utter- 
ance. 

It is this, also, which imparts its peculiar Interest 
to those other words of Philip, which have rung 
throughout the country and are become household 
words with many who never looked upon his face. It 
was not a happy faculty for phrase-making, but a deep 
Inner spirit of compassion and charity, that in the full 
heat of strife and victory, still recent, found voice In 
the words: "Don't cheer, men; those poor devils 
are dying." 

It was because Philip was what he was that he then 
said what he said. It was. Indeed, but the echo of 
the humane spirit that turned the victorious seamen 
from their guns to their boats to save their drowning 
foes; nor is it the prerogative of one race or of one 
navy only to show this generous ardor. Our Eng- 
lish brethren of that day saved the Spaniards from 



A NOBLE COMPANY 39 

among their exploding battery-ships at the siege of 
Gibraltar, in 1782, at risks like those of Trainor, the 
boatswain's mate of the Iowa, told by Captain Evans, 
and of others mentioned, either generally or by name, 
in the stories of the American captains at Santiago. 

These not only saved others, but ventured their own 
lives to do so. But it fell to Philip to give this spirit 
expression, as It fell to Lawrence to say: "Don't 
give up the ship," and to Craven, willingly sacrificing 
his life at Mobile, to yield precedence of escape from 
the very jaws of death, and to bequeath as his last 
words the memorable phrase : " After you, pilot." 

Such eloquence — such outspeaking of that which 
is within — is not idle breath, but fruitful in lofty 
ideals and in future noble acts. Words and deeds 
remain from henceforth forever irreversible, monu- 
ments to the departed whose spirit they summarize, 
and a heritage to the living whom they challenge to 
emulation. In them, as in the hves of the heroes 
themselves, the American navy is rich in example and 
in remembrance. They are a noble company, those 
among whom Philip was worthily numbered when he 
entered into his rest. 



CHAPTER I. 



BOYHOOD DAYS 



There was nothing about the boyhood of Admiral 
Phihp that can be pointed out as distinguishing him 
from hundreds and thousands of other able-bodied 
and sound-minded lads of his day excepting, per- 
haps, his aggressive honesty and contagious laugh. 
That Jack's honesty was not of the passive but was of 
the militant order, has been demonstrated many times 
in his long professional career. " His ideas of honor 
and truth were marked characteristics from his boy- 
hood. He expected everyone to believe in his 
integrity and, if ever it was subjected to doubt, he 
was willing to undergo deprivation in order to dem- 
onstrate that his ' Word was as good as his bond,' " 
said his sister, Mrs. Mary Philip Wheelock. 

One day, while engaged in the boyish habit of 
throwing stones, Jack had the misfortune to break 
a pane of glass in a neighbor's house. The owner — 
a man of considerable wealth — was unaware of 

41 



42 BOYHOOD DAYS 

the damage and Jack's playmates urged him to keep 
quiet; but Philip was not contented until he had 
proceeded to the house, given notice of the mishap 
and had paid, out of his own scanty allowance, for 
the repair. 

We have another illustration of the aggressive- 
ness of Jack's honesty. When a young man at the 
Naval Academy, he began to acquire the habit of 
smoking. He gave his promise to the officer of the 
day not to smoke when allowed outside the reserva- 
tion but, when asked to sign a declaration to that 
effect, he preferred being detained in the Academy 
grounds nearly a year, saying to the officer in com- 
mand, that " if his promise was not sufficient guaran- 
tee of good faith, certainly his signature on paper 
could not be of any great value." 

Philip's " contagious laugh " was but the natural 
outward manifestation of the wholesome — mental, 
physical and moral — being within. Admiral 
Francis John Higginson — who probably knew 
Philip as well as any living officer — said: "As a 
boy Philip was overflowing with animal life and 
spirits and dearly loved a practical joke; a passion 
of which I, with others, was often the victim. His 
humor, however, was so spontaneous and free- 



HIS RINGING LAUGH 43 

hearted that it was impossible, even for the victim, 
not to join in the laughter. There was nothing 
malicious or mean about this fun and if, uninten- 
tionally, he gave offense, he was always ready to 
make amends for it in the most honest and manly 
way." 

The late Admiral Sampson amusingly describes 
Philip's inspiring laugh, as he heard it at Annapo- 
lis, as follows: " Those who were with Jack Philip 
in the old Academy days, when we were all young- 
sters together, must have a vivid remembrance of 
his ringing laugh in the old mess hall. How we 
all admired the promptness and precision of our 
meals! At first, came the enforced silence, when, 
drawn up in parade, we heard the adjutant read 
out in stentorian tones the long list of demerits. 

" But, the moment we entered the mess hall, we 
might talk as we marched to our places. After 
that it needed no compulsion to secure quiet. Only 
the clink of knives and forks broke the silence 
until, our army of young cormorants having satis- 
fied their first eager hunger, the moment came when 
Colonel Swann, with a majestic wave of his right 
arm, would summon in the white-aproned band of 
Colored servants who bore aloft the famous pies of 



44 BOYHOOD DAYS 

so generous a supply in those days that each middy 
might give, without missing it, half his share to his 
nearest friend; hungrier or growing faster, maybe, 
than himself. 

" During the interval of waiting, before the des- 
sert came in, was the moment when Jack's con- 
tagious laugh would ring out, in response to some 
witticism of a friend. Like wildfire it would spread 
through the large hall, for the merriment of that 
laugh was irresistible; and, though in after years 
the voice was sobered, there always remained a 
merry twinkle of the eye which was characteristic of 
the happy soul within." 

Rear-Admiral John Woodward Philip was born 
in Kinderhook, Columbia County, N, Y., August 
26, 1840.^ There being such a large Dutch ele- 

1 To those interested in genealogical study, the following bit 
of Admiral Philip's ancestry is given. It is a tradition in 
Jack Philip's family that one of the line had the distinction of 
jilting George Washington — the Father of his country. What- 
ever the facts in the case may be, it is certain that in the early 
days the ancestors of Admiral Philip spelled tlieir name " Phil- 
ipse " and it is also established beyond controversy, that Wash- 
ington paid court to a bewitching Mary Philipse — who lived 
not very far from New York — and if he did not ask for her 
hand in marriage it was because pressure of public duties was 
such that he could not make " sufficient approaches in his siege 
to the lady's heart to warrant a summons to surrender " — so 
says Washington Irving in his life of George Washington. 

Admiral Philip descended from solid Dutch ancestry, on his 
father's side, and from his mother he inherited those sterling, 



PHILIP'S ANCESTRY 45 

ment in Kinderhook, In those days, the English 
language was held in some contempt. In fact any 
Kinderhookite, who had the temerity to affect broad 
Anglo-Saxon, was promptly crushed by a ponderous 
Holland sneer. Seldom was the venture made 



Puritanical qualities of New England, which have exerted such 
a powerful influence on the destiny of this great nation. Philip's 
paternal great grandfather was Captain George Philipse, whose 
father came from Holland and settled in Germantown, Columbia 
County, N. Y. He had six able-bodied and sound-minded sons. 
Four of these, George, William, Henry and David, at an early 
age, moved to Claverack — now in the same county and a vener- 
able seat of learning — the first named being the great grand- 
father of Rear-Admiral Philip. 

This George Philip was a captain in the American army dur- 
ing the Revolution and served as Commissary of Subsistence — 
a most difficult office to fill in that trying period when money was 
scarce and credit low. He was active not only in state affairs 
but in church matters as well, for we are informed that he was 
one of the deacons who signed the call for the Rev. Dr. Gebbard 
to the Claverack Reformed Dutch Church ; and was a trustee 
when the congregation was incorporated, 1782. 

Captain George Philip married Jane Ostrander, July 15, 1776 — 
a month and year glorious in American history. They had the 
local distinction of being the first couple united in the holy bond 
of matrimony by the venerated Dr. Gebbard in his new pas- 
torate. 

Captain George Philip died in the year 1806, at the age of 
fifty-four. His sixth child, John G. Philip, was born in 1789 
and died in 1834. John Henry Philip, son of John G. Philip, 
and father of the Rear-Admiral, was born in 181 1. After re- 
ceiving his rudimentary education in the schools of the neighbor- 
hood, he entered Troy Polytechnic School, from which he was 
graduated, and then studied in the Vermont Medical College. 

He married the daughter of Dr. Theodore Woodward who, at 
that time, was professor of surgery in the institution and from 
whom Admiral Philip derived his middle name. John Henry 
Philip entered upon the uneventful practice of a country doctor 
in Columbia County, N. Y., beginning his career in Kinderhook 
and moving, in 1843, to Stockport, where he remained until i8$i, 
when he returned to Kinderhook. 



46 BOYHOOD DAYS 

twice. Philip's family, it cannot be denied, strongly 
favored the Hollanders so we find that our brilliant 
rear-admiral was brought up with the Dutch fairly 
well conquered. All the ordinary conversation in 
the Philip household was carried on in this language. 

It is related that a member of the family who 
had been " abroad " — that is to New York — on 
returning home aroused not a little Ire and contempt 
among his relatives by affecting the English tongue 
and, in self-defense, was compelled to take refuge 
in Dutch. 

For the first adventures of Jack Philip we are 
Indebted to his sister, Mrs. Wheelock, who records: 
" Philip early developed marked fighting propensi- 
ties and reports are still extant of how he and his 
brother disturbed family prayers with their fisti- 
cuffs — long before either child had substituted 
trousers for kilt skirts." 

Mrs. Wheelock continues: " A curbless well near 
his father's barn, usually protected by heavy planks, 
one day had been carelessly left open. ' Wood,' as 
he was then called, had failed to notice the omission 
and, Instead of quietly leading Dobbins, the old 
horse. Into the stable, as he was expected to do, he 
enveloped himself In a buffalo robe and, assuming 



EARLY PRANKS 47 

as nearly as possible the appearance of a wild animal, 
accompanied by groans and hideous sounds, rushed 
toward the gentle old horse. Dobbins backed into 
the well and his young tormenter was obliged to has- 
ten for assistance. 

" The same buffalo robe did service a second 
time — with a little variation. It was lowered from 
the hayloft in the barn, before the faces of two rest- 
ive colts, who immediately began to prance and kick 
with such vigor that the floor was demolished so 
that the strong halters alone prevented their com- 
plete precipitation into the cellar below." 

Kinderhook, during Admiral Philip's boyhood, 
was an important village. In the estimation of the 
" natives " it was the seat of an empire for was It 
not here that Martin Van Buren, the eighth presi- 
dent of the United States, was born and where he 
resided when public duty did not call him elsewhere? 

Philip, at an early age, evinced the strongest dis- 
like for unnecessary frills, fuss, furs or feathers. 
Kinderhook, of course, had some of those children 
(found everywhere) with a " rich pa," who delighted 
in showing their affected superiority by wearing fine 
clothes every day in the week and in fixing their hair 
just a little bit differently from the " common " 



48 BOYHOOD DAYS 

children. One of these boys especially aroused the 
contempt of Jack. He was always dressed up and, 
with his long hair carefully curled, would strut along 
the village street with an air that was peculiarly exas- 
perating. 

One day Jack's opportunity came. He caught 
the youngster in the fields and holding him fast, filled 
his hair with burrs; rubbing them in so hard that 
it became necessary to cut off the tresses. Of course, 
Jack was duly punished for this " flagrant violation 
of the rights of neutral " but he stoutly maintained 
that he was more than satisfied with the situation, 
as the youth never again dared to let his hair grow 
long. 

As showing his aptitude for assuming command 
In an emergency, the following anecdote of young 
Philip is given from the pen of Mrs. Wheelock: 
" When about eight years of age, ' Wood ' was sent 
by his father, a practicing country physician, to an 
adjoining town to purchase some medicine which was 
needed immediately. When but a short distance 
from the house, the carriage, owing to an accident, 
became disabled for continued use. 

" Instead of retracing his steps and reporting the 
condition at headquarters, he unhitched the horse 



A YOUTHFUL MISSION 49 

and, leaving the vehicle by the side of the road, 
mounted astride his steed and rode on to a smithy's 
where he left orders to have the wheel reset during 
his absence; then resumed his journey to the apothe- 
cary's to fulfil his original order. The miles were 
eventually retraced, the carriage found satisfactorily 
repaired, and home was reached within the stipulated 
time. The recital of his adventure elicited the re- 
mark, ' An old head on young shoulders.' " 

Mrs. Wheelock has mentioned her brother as hav- 
ing worn " kilt skirts " in his early boyhood. The 
rest of Jack's costume in those days comes from 
another source. Like most well-groomed Dutch 
boys of the village. Jack wore a loose blouse, gath- 
ered at the waist — and thereby hangs a tale. 

Noticing that some chickens had dug a hole under 
a fence, that separated him from an orchard of ripe 
fruit, he reasoned on the lines of the celebrated 
Darius Green, who said : — 

" If birds can fly, why can't I," and asked: — 

"If chickens can dig a hole under a fence to a 
peach orchard, why can't I ? " 

And forthwith Jack enlarged the hole sufficiently 
to enable him to enter the desired inclosure. In a 
jiffy he had filled his blouse with creamy peaches, the 



so BOYHOOD DAYS 

gather at his waist enabling him to stow away several 
quarts of them. 

All went well until Jack started to return, when 
the owner of the orchard hove in sight and gave 
chase. Jack made a dive for the improved chicken- 
hole. But here his poor generalship was demon- 
strated — he had not adequately provided for his 
retreat — for, while he had dug the hole big enough 
to admit his body, he had not counted on the sub- 
stantial enlargement round his waist — caused by the 
peaches under his blouse. The upshot of the whole 
affair was that Jack " got stuck " when half way 
under the fence, so that the irate owner of the crushed 
peaches had him at a painful disadvantage. 

As to Jack Philip's early religious tenets Mrs. 
Wheelock says: " For the belief that his religious 
convictions were not of recent development we find 
several confirmatory instances. On the fly leaf of 
a very old copy of the New Testament, still extant 
In the house of a relative, there is written over his 
own signature, in irregular boyish penmanship, these 
words : ' Would I were a missionary.' 

" Many a child imbibes principles at his mother's 
knee, at such an early period of his existence, that 
even memory fails to remind him that they were not 



A SABBATH WELL SPENT 51 

acquired Intuitively. Once, while staying in the 
home mentioned, Jack overheard a little child re- 
peating an ancient couplet to the effect that : — 

A Sabbath well spent, brings a week of content 
And peace and joy for the morrow; 

But a Sabbath profaned, what e'er may be gained, 
Is certain fore-runner of sorrow. 

" His quick ear caught the words and he asked 
where the child had learned the lines. On being told 
that they had come down from his own mother, he 
exclaimed : * Why, I've always known those verses 
and wondered where I learned them.' " 



CHAPTER 11. 



AT ANNAPOLIS 



At the proper age Jack Philip attended the cele- 
brated Kinderhook Academy and did the usual 
" home work " at night by the aid of sperm oil or 
camphine lamps. That he had an unusually bright 
and receptive mind, is shown by the manner in which 
he " appointed himself " to the Naval Academy. 

An uncle, Peter I. Philip, in those days was one of 
the School Committee of the village. There being 
a vacancy in the Naval Academy, the congressman 
for the district, Killean Miller, wrote to Uncle Peter 
inquiring for some bright boy suitable for the place. 
It happened that Jack was dining with his uncle when 
this letter was read and the lad quickly asked : — 

" Uncle Peter, do you think that I could fill the 
place?" 

Peter said yes and Jack was finally selected. 

That there's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip 
52 



A NARROW ESCAPE 53 

was singularly illustrated in the case of Jack Philip. 
As we have seen, the selection of young Philip was 
satisfactory, both to Uncle Peter and Congressman 
Miller — and what greater powers were there on 
earth than these two mightly men of Kinderhook? 

There were no competitive examinations in those 
days and, save for the entrance ordeal at Annapolis, 
Jack was as " good as there." Therefore, it was 
openly announced that he was going to Annapolis 
and, after receiving, with all due modesty, the usual 
congratulations, he set about counting the days to 
come before the Academy would open its doors to 
new comers. As yet no official notice had reached 
him — but that did not worry him, in fact, it was the 
merest trifle, after Uncle Peter and " Kill " Miller 
had " settled " the matter. 

It was within a day or so of his time for starting 
that this " mere trifle " (the official appointment) 
began to assume alarming proportions for, without 
it, his trip to Annapolis would be useless and his alter- 
nate would, without doubt, get the prize. Much 
distressed by the unaccountable oversight of the Pres- 
ident, in this grave affair of state, Jack was discon- 
solately stubbing his toes along the village street, 
almost convinced that his opportunity for entering 



54 AT ANNAPOLIS 

the navy was gone forever, when he chanced to no- 
tice In the gutter a large envelope where it had, appar- 
ently, been many days; greatly soiled with mud and 
water. 

Picking it up he was astonished to find it addressed 
to himself and on opening it he discovered that it 
was the long and anxiously expected appointment. 
Whether that letter had been intentionally lost by 
some over-anxious relative, or whether it had been 
maliciously mislaid, Philip never was able to ascer- 
tain. In any event it all ended well and he was ap- 
pointed to the Naval Academy September 20, 1856. 

The arrival of newcomers at Annapolis each year 
is watched by the upper classmen with an interest the 
plebeian can never hope to understand. In these 
days when steam and electricity have brought all 
parts of the country Into the closest touch, the styles 
of dress, the habits and customs of the people are 
very generally alike; but, at the time Jack knocked 
at Annapolis' gate, he found there congregated a 
curious assemblage of would-be naval heroes, dressed 
In as many fantastic styles as the length and breadth 
of the land afforded. 

Those were days when stage coaches were com- 
moner than railroad trains, when to get beyond the 



STRANGE "SIGHTS" 55 

border of your native county — and to return 
alive — was a matter of public rejoicing, when the 
man who touched a telegraph key was deemed to be 
in unholy communion with the evil one, and when 
people in each separate state, county and village 
dressed in whatsoever style that seemed best in their 
own particular eyes. 

No wonder, then, that at the annual opening of 
the Naval Academy the upper classmen gathered to 
see the " sights " that had drifted in from all the 
nooks and corners of South, North, East, West and 
Midland, to present their credentials at Uncle Sam's 
navy school. Coming from the more central state of 
New York and having been in closer touch with the 
metropolis, we can imagine that Jack Philip — 
though doubtlessly savoring somewhat of Kinder- 
hook Dutch — did not present the entirely original 
appearance of, for instance, the appointee from Alli- 
gator Bayou down South, or Dead Horse Gulch out 
West, or Codfishville " 'Way de-own East." 

At all events, we know that Jack immediately be- 
came a favorite with instructors and classmen alike. 
One of his chums at the naval school says: " Rear- 
Admiral Philip, known to his classmates and after- 
ward throughout the service as Jack Philip, was one 



56 AT ANNAPOLIS 

of the best all-around fellows in his class. He was 
a favorite not only in his own class but in all the 
classes while he was in the Academy. At times Jack 
was sly, for he could create a sensation in the class- 
room, by getting his section into a roar of laugh- 
ter, while he sat with as stolid a countenance as an 
Indian. 

" Jack received more demerits for one particular 
offense than any one in the class. It was almost 
daily that he was on Conduct Report for ' loud laugh- 
ing ' in the mess hall. I remember on one occasion, 
when two of his classmates were walking down Strib- 
ling Row with one of the famous beauties of Annapo- 
lis, the lady heard of Jack's bashfulness and said she 
would like to meet him. As they happened to be 
near his room, the two classmates went in and 
brought him out by sheer force, and introduced him 
to the fair one. But, just as soon as they released 
their hold — Jack sloped." 

Another story about Jack was how he outwitted a 
professor. " In those days the sections were very 
large and the instructors few, so that it was impossi- 
ble for each middy to recite every day. The fellows 
figured out the days on which they were likely to be 
called on and prepared that lesson but neglected the 



HAZING 57 

others. On this occasion we had a new professor 
who did not understand the situation. 

" Jack had been called on for three days in suc- 
cession, so he felt safe from further recitation for the 
rest of the week. The fourth day, as soon as the 
section was seated, the professor said: — 

" ' Mr. Philip, you will recite.' 

"Jack arose, turned red from his neck up, but 
finally recovered himself sufficiently to calmly ask : — 

" ' Professor, have you not made some mistake? 
I have recited three days this week while some of 
these fellows have not recited at all.' 

" The professor referred to his record book and 
said: — 

" * Mr. Philip, I beg your pardon, you are quite 
right. You may take your seat.' The professor 
could not account for the commotion in the section 
that followed." 

Although later in life he may have changed his 
mind on the subject of hazing, Philip fully committed 
himself to the practice while in school, for one of his 
friends tells how, one night, he led a hazing party 
which had for its object a specially unpopular mid- 
shipman. They, literally, made him " take up his 
bed and walk " — it was a feather bed — and, gain- 



58 AT ANNAPOLIS 

ing a secluded spot, gave him a coat of tar and then, 
ripping open the bed, rolled him in the feathers. 

One of the instructors at Annapolis, during Jack's 
novitiate, was a greatly beloved man whose only 
fault — so the middies declared — was that of stam- 
mering when unusually excited or nervous. One 
beautiful spring morning, when the middies were 
drilling in infantry tactics under the care of this offi- 
cer, the youngsters were marching toward the sea- 
wall, and were within a few feet of it, when their 
commander endeavored to give the order " Halt! " 

The middies heard the hissing and spluttering noise 
behind them and knew perfectly well what the in- 
structor was trying to say, but, in that spirit of mis- 
chief so natural in boys, they marched right over 
the seawall and had waded into a considerable depth 
of water before the instructor finally gave vent to the 
word "Halt!" 

Very few laymen appreciate the severity of dis- 
cipline to which these budding seamen are subjected 
during the four years of their stay at Annapolis. 
Demerit marks were given for the slightest infrac- 
tion of any rule and, when the number reached two 
hundred, the middy was dismissed. Philip had the 
distinction of incurring two hundred and twenty-one 



A BAD HABIT 59 

demerit marks, brought on principally by " loud 
laughing " and in endeavoring to cover the shortcom- 
ings of others — and had it not been for his sterling 
good qualities he, undoubtedly, would have been dis- 
missed. As it was. Commodore Craven, then Super- 
intendent, on receiving Jack's promise to mend his 
ways, very graciously " called it one hundred and 
ninety-nine." 

And while we are on the subject of smoking, it 
will be well to give the testimony of a shipmate of 
Admiral Philip, Chief Engineer Edward Biddle 
Latch, now retired. Mr. Latch says: " Among the 
reminiscences of the late Rear-Admiral Phihp, I 
think that his meerschaum pipe, with a big dent in it, 
should not be neglected. Besides being an excellent 
pipe. It was a souvenir of the civil war; the dent, I 
think, befell it while he was attached to the monitor 
Montauk. Anyhow, It was the only pipe, with one 
exception, he smoked In the three years' cruise of the 
JVachusett and many and many are the associations 
that cling about It. 

" As an expert in blowing rings I never saw his 
equal. By some peculiarity, known only to himself, 
he would puff out a dense volume of smoke when, 
suddenly, a huge ring would emerge from It; remind- 



6o AT ANNAPOLIS 

ing one of the occasionals that spring from a 9-inch 
gun or from the smokepipe of a locomotive. A pic- 
ture of that pipe, together with the mysterious para- 
phernalia which are supposed to accompany such 
things, would seem like a visible presence of an old 
friend to scores and scores of brother officers." 



CHAPTER III. 

HIS FIRST TASTE OF WAR. 

It is of interest to note that on leaving Annapolis, 
Philip's first active service was in that grand old 
frigate Constitution, one of the most famous ships 
in the United States navy. Besides her good serv- 
ices in our wars with the semi-piratical states of Bar- 
bary, the Constitution, under Isaac Hull, captured 
the English frigate Guerriere; while under William 
Bainbridge she took the Java and under Charles 
Stewart she conquered the Cyane and Levant. 

So many glorious associations were attached to this 
ship that, when her timbers began to rot with age, 
she was rebuilt and at the outbreak of the civil 
war she was lying at Annapolis as a training ship. 
Here she was in great danger of falling into the 
hands of the Confederates — which would have 
given a sentimental support, at least, to their cause. 

About this time the Eighth Massachusetts Regi- 
ment, under Brigadier-General Benjamin Franklin 

6i 



62 HIS FIRST TASTE OF WAR 

Butler, was in the vicinity and, with the aid of a 
detachment of these troops, the ship was guarded 
until towed to New York. This was as narrow an 
escape as Old Ironsides ever had from having any 
other than the Stars and Stripes flying at her gaff. 

In reference to this incident. Admiral Taylor says : 
" My knowledge of Admiral Philip began in 1861. 
The war with the South having broken out, our 
studies at the Naval Academy became somewhat dis- 
ordered and the young midshipmen had to care for 
themselves during the troublous days of April, 1861. 
I had entered the Academy a few months before and, 
with my class, had been quartered during the winter 
aboard the old Constitution^ where we messed and 
swung our hammocks on her historic decks. 

" Presently Confederate troops appeared in the 
vicinity; and after several night alarms, when we 
youngsters turned out and mustered on deck to defend 
the old ship, we were removed to the shore and quar- 
tered in the buildings occupied by the upper classes. 
Here I found myself, quite by chance, under the im- 
mediate charge of Jack Philip. He was one of the 
first class, counting among its members Sampson, as 
leading midshipman or cadet officer, and Lloyd Phe- 
nix, as second in rank and standing. 



ABOARD THE CONSTITUTION 63 

" Already Jack's name had become known as sec- 
ond to none as a seaman and, above all, in popularity 
and in the warm affection of his comrades. Philip 
was the second captain of the gun crew to which I 
was assigned, the first captain being an officer of good 
character and standing, but over-conscientious, and 
was more feared than loved by the midshipmen under 
his orders. 

" Philip, knowing these traits in the man, gath- 
ered me, a green youngster, under his especial care; 
warned me of the peculiar prejudices I would encoun- 
ter, and how I should behave to avoid trouble with 
him. Philip's attitude toward me, as soon as he saw 
that I was young and green, was that of a kindly 
elder brother from whom was due the protection and 
sympathy I needed. 

" The memory of those few days of excitement 
and confusion, with my seat at mess near his, of his 
advice to keeping my arms ready during the night 
to answer the alarms of attack, of his humorous 
warnings about the first captain with his melancholy 
glance seeking for misdemeanor to report (though 
Philip never inculcated by word or act any disrespect 
for his senior) the memory of these times, I say, will 
dwell long with me. 



64 HIS FIRST TASTE OF WAR 

" They were stirring days. War with all its grim- 
ness of visage was upon us. Fleets of transports 
anchored in the bay. Regiments camped under the 
shadow of our buildings. We ourselves, young as 
we were, slept but broken sleep between the calls to 
arms." 

Shortly after his exciting experiences in the Con- 
stitution., Philip was transferred to the Santee and, 
having been promoted to the rank of acting-master, 
he was ordered as executive officer to the sloop-of- 
war Marion of the Gulf Blockading Squadron. 

It was while he was in this ship that Philip gave 
one of his first exhibitions of skilful seamanship. 
The incident is narrated by Admiral Higginson as 
follows: "While cruising off Havana in the 
Marion, 1861 or 1862, the captain thought he would 
like to go ashore and call on our consul-general. As 
the breeze was blowing directly out of the harbor, 
the Marion stood In close to the entrance, when the 
captain took his gig and pulled ashore — leaving 
Philip to look after the vessel until his return with- 
out giving him any particular directions as to his 
movements. 

" Philip, thinking that he would like to have a 
look at Havana himself, began beating into the har- 



SKILFUL SEAMANSHIP 6s 

bor, which, although the entrance is very narrow, he 
was enabled to do owing to the Marion being such 
a quick working vessel. 

" Just as he got to the narrow part of the en- 
trance where, on making short tacks he had to ap- 
proach very close to the shore, a familiar voice came 
over the water saying : — 

" ' Young man, what are you doing with my ship ? ' 

" It was not, however, a moment to enter into ex- 
planations and Philip continued to work into the 
harbor and anchored, and made his peace with the 
captain afterward. Probably the latter, who was 
one of the crack sailors of the old navy, was not so 
much displeased to see the ' youngster,' just out of 
the Naval Academy, perform such a difficult piece 
of seamanship. This performance was typical of 
Philip in dealing with new situations." 

Philip had been in the Marion only a short time 
when he was attached to the Sonoma of the James 
River Fleet. On July i6, he was commissioned a 
lieutenant and from September of that year to Jan- 
uary, 1865, he was executive officer of the Chippewa, 
Pawnee and of the monitor Montauk in succession; 
these vessels being actively engaged in the naval op- 
erations connected with the siege of Charleston. 



66 HIS FIRST TASTE OF WAR 

It was while he was in the Pawnee that Philip 
received his first serious wound, the attending circum- 
stances of which are described by Admiral Balch, 
who commanded that ship, as follows: " Philip was 
then a lieutenant and executive officer in that ship. 
During her year of service in Stono River, South 
Carolina, It was the Pawnee'' s duty to protect the in- 
terests of the Government — and the indefatigable 
efforts of our Southern brethren to destroy her were 
often shown. 

"These had expression in the action of July i6, 
1863, at which time the Pawnee was (with other 
naval vessels) covering the troops under General 
Terry. On the day above named a simultaneous at- 
tack was made on the troops and naval vessels by 
two batteries on James Island — the guns being dis- 
tant, according to Confederate accounts, three hun- 
dred and fifty yards. 

" It was not surprising that the Pawnee was hit 
forty-six times in the fight; but, strange to say, only 
a few were wounded, among them Lieutenant Philip, 
who was struck by a splinter (a veritable log of 
wood) and knocked ten feet across the deck. But 
with that Invincible pluck which was so characteristic 
of him he kept on In the fight and I noted with pride 




MIDSHIPMAN PHILIP. 



ATTACK ON CHARLESTON 67 

in our noble profession that his wound did not inter- 
fere with his work, for he coolly went aft and fired 
off one of the 9-inch guns which had had the lock 
shot away; and, after the action, he counted the hits, 
forty-six as he reported to me. I observed, during 
the fight, that Philip had been injured but the hot 
fire we were under did not permit the usual civilities 
of the day as our duty was in the action then taking 
place. 

" It may be of some interest to state that on that 
day it was expressed to me by him (Terry) that we 
(meaning the naval force under my command) had 
saved them; a fact of which I had no doubt and to 
my gallant and efficient executive I felt much indebted 
for the result." 

One of the greatest dangers in wooden war ships 
was that from splinters. A shot might pass entirely 
through the ship without injuring any one but, in 
its flight, it scattered a shower of splinters (some of 
them huge logs) which usually inflicted serious dam- 
age on the men. After this action there were swept 
up from the decks of the Pawnee enough splinters 
to cook breakfast for two hundred and fifty men. 

In connection with his service in the Pawnee, the 
following anecdote is related by Admiral Balch who 



68 HIS FIRST TASTE OF WAR 

says : " A lady and gentleman were stopping at the 
same hotel with Philip, whom he invited to visit a 
modern man-of-war — Philip then (1893) com- 
manding the New York. The invitation being ac- 
cepted, they were received by Captain Philip, who 
showed them over the ship, giving them an oppor- 
tunity to inspect the guns, machinery and everything 
likely to interest strangers. They then adjourned to 
the cabin where refreshments were served — the lady 
remarking to her husband : — 

" ' How strange it is we should be aboard a Yankee 
man-of-war ' ? — for it must, in candor, be stated 
that they were from Charleston, S. C, and had not 
been reconstructed. She added that she would never 
be reconstructed until she had met an officer from 
that ' Hateful old Pawnee ' and had given him a 
piece of her mind, 

" ' Oh, it is a long time since then and all feeling 
should be past and gone,' replied Philip. But the 
lady still asserted that she would not be satisfied un- 
til she had had an opportunity to speak her mind. 
Then Philip said that if she would promise to be as 
pleasant to the officer as she had always been to him, 
he might present one to her — and she promised. 
He then rose and stated that he had been executive 



"HATEFUL OLD PAWNEE" 69 

officer of the Pawnee and asked if there was not a 
St. Michael's Church in Charleston. 

" * Yes,' said the lady, ' and we lived right op- 
posite.' " 

" ' Well,' solemnly replied Philip, * we used to 
make the steeple of that church our target.' 

" As commander of the Pawnee it may be proper 
for me to say that making a target of St. Michael's 
spire is a very good story, even if not true. It Is 
needless to add that this revelation of his identity 
with the Pawnee did not alter the feelings of the lady 
toward Captain Philip, as she had been entirely won 
over by his kindness and gallantry." ^ 

^ Philip probably meant that he used the steeple of St. Mi- 
chael's Church as a "range" rather than a "target." — E. S. M. 



CHAPTER IV. 

HIS FIRST LONG CRUISE 

On the conclusion of the civil war, Philip was 
ordered to serve as executive officer In the Wachusett, 
Commander Robert Townsend, on a three years' 
cruise In China seas. Following the custom of those 
days, Philip kept a diary of the Interesting Incidents 
of that voyage and has given a valuable record of 
some happenings in the Far East that have been 
locked up In the privacy of his log over thirty years. 

Frequently, the dally record of a protracted cruise 
in a war ship becomes a monotonous entry of weather 
conditions, number of knots logged, an occasional 
burial at sea, etc., details of little or no Interest to 
the average reader and valuable In an historical sense 
only as they confirm the time and place of a ship's 
Itinerary In some episode of national Importance. 

There is, necessarily, some of this " dead mat- 
ter " In the diary of Jack Philip, but the writer has 
endeavored to eliminate It so as to leave only those 

70 



AN AVENGING NEMESIS 71 

bright, witty and thoroughly human observations 
which were so characteristic of the man, Philip. 

The Wachusett was one of the prominent war 
craft in our struggle with the South. She was a 
sister to the famous Kearsarge, a wooden, steam 
frigate with a detachable propeller, carrying nine 
guns and a crew of one hundred and seventy men. 

It was when the Confederate commerce-destroyer 
Florida put into the Brazilian port of Bahia, Oc- 
tober, 1864, that the Wachusett (then under the 
orders of Commander Napoleon Collins) deliber- 
ately ran under the nose of a Brazilian corvet — sta- 
tioned expressly for the purpose of protecting the 
Confederate ship — smashed into the Florida and, 
after firing several shots, compelled her to surrender. 
Taking his prize in tow, Collins carried her to the 
United States. 

Of course, this act was a flagrant violation of the 
rights of a neutral port — but no more so than many 
England and France were guilty of in the same 
war — and it was promptly disavowed by our Gov- 
ernment; but before the Florida could be restored 
to the Brazilian authorities she was sunk, so that her 
usefulness as a destroyer of Uncle Sam's commerce 
was ended. 



72 HIS FIRST LONG CRUISE 

The Brazilian Government, very properly, was 
highly indignant over the affair and issued an edict 
prohibiting the wicked Wachusett — under direst 
penalties — from again darkening Brazilian waters 
with her shadow. How, like an avenging Nemesis, 
this prohibition brought about a serious, and even 
perilous, condition aboard the JVachusett, on the 
cruise in which Philip served in her, is engagingly 
described by the hero in his journal. 

To the average landsman, so little is known of the 
romance, daily peril and personal adventures of our 
naval officers while at sea, that the writer feels justi- 
fied in giving a larger measure of Philip's diary than 
would, ordinarily, be advisable. This is the more 
appropriate in view of the fact that Philip's inspiring 
conduct in the naval battle of Santiago has peculiarly 
endeared him to the American people, so that they 
have a praiseworthy interest in the details of his 
private life. 

Before entering upon the Incidents of Philip's ex- 
periences in this long cruise of the Wachusett, it will 
be well to give a list of her officers — some of whom 
are living to-day — as they appear on a fly leaf of his 
journal. Many of these names are familiar to the 
older officers of the navy. Her commander was 



GUESSING 73 

Robert Townsend, a man who had been regularly 
connected with the service, but resigned before the 
civil war broke out. When hostilities with the South 
began, he hastily re-entered the navy and served 
throughout that unfortunate strife, with credit to him- 
self and to his country. 

Phihp, then lieutenant, was the executive officer (or 
the highest official below the commander in the ship) 
and it may be here noted that he filled the most trying 
and difficult position in a man-of-war when engaged 
in active cruising. 

The other officers, as given In Philip's diary were : 
W. M. King, surgeon; William Bogert Newman 
(now living) and Thomas B. Grove, acting masters; 
John C. Pegram (now living) ensign; Benjamin 
Haskins, acting ensign; Edward H. Sears, acting as- 
sistant-paymaster; Edward Biddle Latch (now liv- 
ing), M. H. Knapp, Edward Lincoln, J. H. Barton, 
J. M. Brown and Joseph Forbes, engineers; Paul 
Atkinson and James Russell, boatswain and gunner; 
R. Rich, James Kelly and Joseph Moran, acting mas- 
ter's mates; Samuel Townsend, captain's clerk; Robert 
Thomas (now living) paymaster's clerk. In all there 
were two hundred and two souls aboard the JVachu- 
sett when she sailed. 



74 HIS FIRST LONG CRUISE 

When the ship left from Boston her officers re- 
corded their guesses as to the time she would return 
to the United States. These are noted in Philip's 
journal as follows: "The Wachiisett sailed from 
Boston, March 5, 1865. The officers think that she 
will return on the following dates: — 

Mr. Newman . . October 13, 1867 

Mr. Grove . . . October 13, 1868 

Mr. Pegram . . . December 20, 1867 

Mr. Latch . . . October 20, 1867 

Mr. Sears . . . December 20, 1868 

Dr. King . . . April 20, 1868 

Mr. Raskins . . March 15, 1868 

Philip .... June 20, 1867 

As a matter of fact, the JVachusett arrived at New 
York, on her return from the Far East, January 29, 
1868, so that Mr. Pegram is entitled to the credit 
of having come nearest to the date. 

But here, at the very outset, we have an illustra- 
tion of Philip's fighting capacity. Even in the mat- 
ter of a guess, he was unwilling to admit defeat, for, 
on the last page of his journal, he records that his 
guess was "miscalculated"; he having intended the 
date given by him, " June 20, 1867," as the time of 
the ship's arrival at Shanghai, China. 

But even in this " miscalculation " he found little 
comfort, for the Wachusett arrived at Shanghai April 



LEAVING FRIENDS 75 

24, 1866, some fourteen months before the date of 
Philip's prediction. 

Early in the year of 1865 Philip proceeded to 
Boston and reported for duty aboard the JVachusett. 
On the first of March the staunch cruiser was still 
lying alongside of the wharf at the lower end of the 
Boston Navy Yard. About ten o'clock that morn- 
ing, a draft of men came aboard from the receiving 
ship Ohio and then the regular duties aboard the 
JVachusett began. That afternoon the cruiser hauled 
out from the wharf and anchored in the stream pre- 
paratory to sailing. 

The following day was a typical New England, 
early spring day, " cold and rainy " but all hands were 
engaged in getting the ship ready for sea. Philip, 
being the executive officer, was kept busy " berthing 
and organizing the ship's company into watches, 
quarters and stations." It was fully expected that 
the ship would sail on the fourth of March, but little 
things would come up at the last moment to cause 
postponement. 

Philip improved the time by going on shore in the 
afternoon " to bid farewell to the kind friends I had 
become acquainted with during my short stay in the 
' Hub of the Universe.' On returning to the ship in 



76 HIS FIRST LONG CRUISE 

the evening, with spirits very much depressed, I came 
to the conclusion that going to sea was well enough 
to talk about, while comfortably situated and sur- 
rounded by pleasant companions and friends ashore, 
but the stern reality was not so pleasant; and I was, 
for the time being, very sorry that I had chosen the 
naval service for my profession." 

Probably every naval officer has experienced the 
same melancholy sentiment to which Philip gave ex- 
pression in the foregoing quotation. The next day, 
however, was bright and pleasant and the young 
man's spirits rose correspondingly, for he says: 
" About lo A. M. orders came to the commander to 
get under way as soon as possible and carry out the 
instructions of the Navy Department. The pilot 
came on board and every thing was put in motion to 
get the ship started on her long cruise; all the officers 
and sailors were eager to ' be off,' but of course some 
of us were exceedingly sorry to break off the pleasant 
associations that had been formed on shore and to 
form new and not such pleasant ones in foreign 
lands." 

In this supposition, however, Philip was mistaken 
for, in a number of instances, he records. In his jour- 
nal, the exceedingly pleasant acquaintances he made 



WAIL OF AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER 77 

in Africa and in the Far East; especial mention 
being made of the missionary families of Foo Chow 
and Nanking, China. In fact, at the conclusion of 
Philip's journal, we find him noting that the best time 
of his life (to that date, June, 1868) was spent at 
Cape Town, Africa, on his return voyage to the 
United States. 

Describing his final departure from Boston Philip 
says: "The ship was surrounded by small boats 
containing the mothers, wives, sisters and sweethearts 
of some of the sailor men, all asking permission to 
' Come on board ' and see their Tom, Dick and Harry 
before the ship sailed. But, of course, I had to turn 
my ear and heart from them and give them the stereo- 
typed answer : ' No, I am sorry, but you can't come 
aboard,' and receive a cry or a sniffle in return and, 
perhaps, be called a cold-hearted wretch. And all 
this for attending to the required duty of an executive 
officer." 

Such is the wail of the executive officer in nearly 
every war ship ; whether it be that of the United States 
or any other country. The incident is quoted, merely, 
as showing one of the many trials and " temptations " 
to which the executive officer of a war ship is sub- 
jected. 



CHAPTER V. 

ON A SECRET MISSION OF WAR 

It was five o'clock on a Sunday afternoon (March 
5, 1865,) th^t the cheerful cry: "All hands to up 
anchor," resounded through the Wachusett and In a 
short time she " broke ground," started ahead with 
her engines and began her long voyage for strange 
lands. As she passed the old tub of a receiving ship 
Ohio — a relic of past glories of the navy — the lat- 
ter's crew gave three long and hearty cheers for a 
pleasant and happy cruise and a return to home in 
safety. 

The cruiser steamed rapidly down the harbor and, 
at seven o'clock in the evening, when the lights in 
the city and on the shipping in port were twinkling 
her a merry good-by, she passed Fort Warren; the 
garrison and a few Confederate prisoners mounting 
the parapet to watch the ship pass. Soon afterward 
the pilot was discharged — the officers and men send- 
ing their last letters by him, — the guns fore and aft 

78 



DINING UNDER DIFFICULTIES 79 

were shotted and secured, " four bells " (full speed) 
jangled cheerily in the engine room and the gallant 
ship boldly headed seaward. 

The first morning of the cruise dawned clear, pleas- 
ant and with just enough crispness in the air to tingle 
the blood and keep the men in motion. The ship 
was put under plain sail and steam and was headed 
eastward, so as to clear St. George's Bank. As there 
was a heavy sea on and the ship was rolling quite 
deep, an unusual number of officers and men were 
prostrated by seasickness so that no attempt was made 
to exercise the crew. 

It is said that Philip never was seasick in his life, 
although he came from inland, yet he seems to have 
had much sympathy for the unfortunate ones. In- 
stead of indulging in the too common practice of mak- 
ing fun of the (sometimes) truly laughable contor- 
tions and yelps of those afflicted with this evil of the 
sea, he compassionately records: "They are all to 
be pitied but cannot be helped." 

Philip was, however, subject to another (and per- 
haps quite as acute) illness, namely, homesickness. 
On the first morning out he began to feel its effects 
and looked with longing eyes on the occasional home- 
ward-bound sails they met that day. " How I 



8o OAT A SECRET MISSION OF WAR 

wished," he exclaimed, " that I was on board, just re- 
turning from a cruise so that I might again visit my 
home on the Hudson." 

By the morning of the second day out, the ship 
had cleared St. George's Bank and was in the Gulf 
Stream, about the latitude of New York City, where 
the weather was much milder; consequently, every- 
body was in better spirits. The ship, however, en- 
countered long, swinging waves which caused her to 
roll very deep and to pitch and " bow " more than 
the courtesy of the ocean required — so many of the 
seasick ones declared. 

At their meals the men were obliged to hold their 
soup dishes, coffee cups etc., in their hands and to 
keep time with the roll of the ship. Of course, the 
spectacle of dignified officers, waving and balancing 
their food in the air — like some conductor of an 
orchestra leading his musicians through a difficult and 
exciting passage of an overture — at once appealed 
to Philip's keen sense of humor — although he is too 
polite to make irrelevant remarks about it in his 
diary. 

As the men were unaccustomed to this style of 
" dancing in the air," a large quantity of crockery 
was broken, much soup was spilled, some uniforms 




SCENE OF PHILIP S CRUISES IN THE ATLANTIC. 



"A LOVELY SPRING DAY'' 8i 

were badly smeared, and sharp things were said about 
seafaring life in general. Some of the men, after 
the meal was over, were unkind enough to remark 
that the '" mess " table was rightly named. 

Anyway, it is evident that some of the officers were 
vexed, for Philip records: " I think the man who 
wrote ' Life on the Ocean Wave ' was anything but 
sane or rational for, if he had been in his right mind, 
he never would have misused our English language in 
the style he did. I have heard several of the officers 
to-day wish for the author of that piece, to be dropped 
overboard for misapplying words in so bad a man- 
ner." 

Notwithstanding the discouragements of the situa- 
tion, Philip showed his high qualities as an officer by 
beginning, at least, to exercise the men at the broad- 
side guns. Under the circumstances, he could have 
been excused in postponing this duty but he realized 
that the ship might, at any moment, fall In with a 
Confederate war craft so that it was highly Impor- 
tant that the men should become proficient In hand- 
ling the guns as soon as possible. 

That Philip was suffering keenly from homesick- 
ness at this time, Is seen when he notes : " In the 
evening, feeling quite low spirited again, as the shades 



82 ON A SECRET MISSION OF WAR 

of night began to approach, I passed a long time in 
Pegram's stateroom where we talked over our hard 
luck and the misfortune of being naval officers in 
Uncle Sam's service; and made several resolutions 
some of which, I am fearful, I cannot keep in case I 
do return to the United States in safety." 

This despondency entirely disappeared on the fol- 
lowing morning for, it being a lovely spring day 
with the sea unusually smooth and seasickness almost 
gone, everybody was in excellent spirits. Philip notes 
the contrast when he says: "Thus it is with most 
naval officers; one day, when it is beautiful, they are 
' dead in love ' with their profession; but, as soon as a 
gale comes on, any of us would be willing to exchange 
places with any hackman or stage driver on land." 

March 9th dawned delightfully warm and pleasant 
and, as the sea continued smooth, Philip was busy all 
day stationing and drilling the green crew and exer- 
cising at the great guns. After this work had been 
accomplished, the men, having nothing else to do and 
there being no sail in sight, began to feel homesick 
again, Down in the wardroom some member of the 
mess began to talk about the good times they had had 
on shore. As this resulted in accentuating their de- 
pression of spirits, It was voted that all such conversa- 



"IS IT THE SHENANDOAH?" 83 

tion be ruled out until the officers had become more 
accustomed to the loneliness of sea life. 

Since leaving port everyone in the ship had sup- 
posed that she was to make for Madeira as the first 
stop in her long passage to China ; but, it seems, that 
the IFachusett carried sealed orders which were not 
to be opened until the third day out. 

It was not until the instructions were read that it 
was known that the ship was on a secret mission of 
war. It appears the Navy Department had received 
information that the Confederate cruiser Shenandoah 
had recently arrived in the West Indies and was likely 
to put into the French port of Martinique; and the 
Wachusett was ordered to stop at that place in the 
hope of meeting her. 

In an incredibly short time, the news spread through 
the ship's company and it served to raise the spirits 
of the men astonishingly. It was now with new inter- 
est they watched every sail or smoke that appeared 
above the horizon and, as it drew nearer, eagerly 
speculated on the chance of it being a foe worthy of 
their steel. 

Philip well expressed the spirit of the men when 
he recorded : " Although having a new and green 
crew, we are all anxious to meet the Shenandoah and. 



84 ON A SECRET MISSION OF WAR 

although we might not make so pretty a fight as our 
sister ship, the Kearsarge, did in the Enghsh Channel, 
yet we are confident that we would not disgrace the 
Wachusett's fair name and would rid the seas of an- 
other commerce-destroyer. I would not so soon 
boast had I not the greatest confidence in the true- 
blue of our Yankee crew." 

A day or so later the Wachusett espied two sails 
which, at first, bore some resemblance to the Shenan- 
doah and her course was changed so as to approach 
them. They proved, however, to be honest Ameri- 
can traders but were badly scared by the bellicose ap- 
proach of the war ship; evidently mistaking her for 
a Confederate. 

On the fifth morning after leaving port, the Wachu- 
sett reached a point southward where the weather 
was extremely warm and sultry. The transition 
seemed peculiar to most of the crew for, less than a 
week before, they were all bundled up in furs and 
great coats but were now wearing the lighest summer 
clothing. 

Sunday, in a man-of-war at sea, presents a scene few 
landfolk have had the pleasure of enjoying. It is a 
day of some pomp and solemnity. All day Saturday 
Is given up preparing for it. The ship is thoroughly 



SUNDAY AT SEA 85 

cleaned, the decks carefully washed and holystoned, 
the men make all necessary repairs on their clothing 
so as to make the best possible appearance at " in- 
spection." 

The Sunday of March 12th, the first the Wachusett 
spent at sea on this cruise, was a beautiful summer's 
day. The sea — with the exception of the graceful, 
gentle swell setting in from the northeast — was calm 
and smooth as a mill pond. At ten o'clock the of- 
ficers and men, dressed in their best " togs," stood at 
their stations for inspection while the commander 
with one or more oflicers passed down the line, care- 
fully examining the men as to neatness of appear- 
ance, the muskets and bayonets of the marines and the 
general tidiness of the ship — for all of which the 
executive oflicer was held strictly accountable. 

As Philip was that important official in the Wachu- 
sett, it is with laudable pride he recorded: " Con- 
sidering that it was the first Sunday at sea ' Off the 
Guards,' the crew made a fine appearance which 
pleased our commander very much and he remarked, 
fn passing down the line, that " ' with the present 
crew I would be glad to fall in with the Shenandoah 
or any of her sister ships.' " 

After inspection, the officers and men assembled 



86 ON A SECRET MISSION OF WAR 

on the quarter-deck for Divine service. Standing be- 
hind a plain table, covered with the American flag, 
on which was a Bible and a hymn book. Commander 
Townsend read the service. In the profound silence 
of that hour the comforting words of Divine healing 
could be plainly heard in every corner of the deck. 

As the men joined in some familiar hymn, the 
music broke far and wide over the water. It was 
then (perhaps more than at any other time) the lonely 
band of men, helpless and frail on that hmitless ex- 
panse of water and under the vast heaven above, felt 
how true it was that man was held in the hollow of 
God's hand. 

After the service the men were free to do what 
they pleased. Smoking was permitted and, assem- 
bling in groups, they passed away the long hours in 
idle gossip about things peculiarly interesting to the 
sailor's heart. The officers, save those on duty, 
whiled away the time in reading or writing letters to 
be sent home at the first opportunity. 

In making entries in his diary Philip has, very 
kindly, revealed some of the " trade secrets " in navi- 
gation. Like most of the old-time war steamers, the 
fVachusett's coal bunkers were quite limited so that 
it was important to avail herself of every breeze that 



"BLACKLISTERS" 87 

would carry her on her course. By March 12th the 
ship was fast approaching the region of the northeast 
trade winds. Her coal was getting rather low and 
she still had some nine hundred miles to run before she 
could replenish. 

Fortunately, on the next day, she got into the 
trades; having " struck " them during the night, and 
they were found to be blowing quite as hard as could 
be desired. It was beautiful all day, the sea quite 
smooth and the ship bounding along under sail, with 
less than half steam, at twelve knots an hour. 

Scarcely had all the canvas been spread, however, 
when it was found (just as they were about to give 
her all the port studding sails) that the head of the 
foretopmast and jibboom were sprung compelling the 
reduction of sails, lest those spars might be carried 
away. Luckily, a spare set of spars was on board 
but could not be rigged until the ship got into port. 

One of Philip's *' charming little methods " of 
maintaining discipline aboard the Wachusett is re- 
vealed in the next few entries in his journal. Philip, 
always, was adverse to the harsher means of punish- 
ment (unless in case of absolute necessity) but he ob- 
tained his end quite as effectively, perhaps, by another 
system. He seems to have kept a record of all the 



88 ON A SECRET MISSION OF WAR 

minor offenses of the men and such culprits were 
placed on a " black list." When any disagreeable 
ship duty was to be performed, these " blacklisters " 
were assigned to it. 

On the eighth day out the bilge water became un- 
endurably offensive and, promptly after breakfast, 
the " blacklisters " were set to work cleaning out 
the storerooms, fore and aft; "which," said Philip, 
" was our only remedy for this obnoxious and sicken- 
ing smell." On the following day the misconduct 
men were again set at the unpleasant task and, as 
Philip quaintly put it: " He exercised the crew at 
great guns, cleaned storerooms, etc., and exercised 
well the blacklisters at the pumps." 

It was on this day that Philip had his first experience 
with a waterspout. The ship was slipping rapidly 
through the water, under very httle sail and no 
steam (the engines having been stopped and the pro- 
peller disconnected) at the rate of nine knots. In 
the course of a heavy rain squall in the afternoon, a 
large waterspout was sighted to windward — bear- 
ing down on the ship. 

As it did not pass near enough to be dangerous, the 
Wachusett did not fire at it ; as was generally the cus- 
tom in a vessel having a gun. They are extremely 



LAND HO! 89 

dangerous to open vessels and a cannon is fired so that 
the shot, or the concussion, will burst it and pre- 
cipitate the immense body of water harmlessly into 
the sea; instead of upon the deck of the craft. 

By March 15th the ship was drawing near Mar- 
tinique when the propeller was again connected, the 
engines started and at sunset land was sighted from 
the masthead. It was the island of Guadeloupe and 
the Wachusett passed it in the night. 



CHAPTER VI. 

AT MARTINIQUE 

It is difficult for the average landsman to under- 
stand how attached a true sailor becomes to his ship. 
Philip, first, last and always, was an ideal seaman — 
as has been fully shown in his long professional career. 
How strong was his love for, what he affectionately 
termed, " my " ship is touchingly illustrated in a rem- 
iniscence from one of his brother officers in the 
Wachusett, Chief Engineer Latch. 

By the arrangement of the mess-table in the Wachu- 
sett, during her cruise in the Far East, 1865-68, it so 
happened that Latch sat on Philip's right side for the 
two and a half years he was in her ; at the end of which 
time Philip was ordered to serve as executive officer 
in the flagship Hartford, Rear-Admiral Bell. 

Mr. Latch says: "The order almost broke 
Philip's heart; not only because his vessel was home- 
ward-bound but because he felt a true affection for 
every plank and spar, every shroud and brace of 
her. He had made her a sailor's ideal home." 

90 



BESIEGED BY "BUMBOATS" 91 

The Wachusett was now in the West Indies, the 
scene of so many naval battles between the French 
and English, the English and Dutch, the Americans 
and French, the Americans and English and the 
Americans and Spaniards. In short, the West Indies 
may very properly be called one of the greatest bat- 
tle grounds in the world. 

Would it be the good fortune of the gallant Wachu- 
sett to meet the Shenandoah, and add another to the 
long list of sea-fights that have stained the waters of 
this sea? That was the question uppermost in the 
minds of her officers and crew as they sailed past the 
towering mountains of Guadeloupe and Martinique 
— eagerly scanning each sail that appeared, in the 
hope of meeting a worthy foe. 

Philip, evidently, was greatly impressed with the 
grandeur of scenery about him. In fact, all through 
his diary, he shows the keenest appreciation of the 
beauties of nature and unconsciously, perhaps, treats 
us to some graphic word-pictures. 

Under date of March i6th he says: "To-day 
broke perfectly beautiful, with land in sight and quite 
near at daylight. The island [Guadeloupe] pre- 
sented a magnificent appearance as we were steaming 
along its coast. It is very high and mountainous, and 



92 AT MARTINIQUE 

filled with deep ravines and caves. But it is under 
almost perfect cultivation, from the top down to the 
sea coast. Sugarcane and coffee plantations are in 
sight as far as the eye can reach." 

At nine o'clock that morning the Wachusett 
steamed into the harbor of Fort de France, Mar- 
tinique, and anchored under the guns of Fort St. 
Louis; thus completing the first run of her long pas- 
sage to China in eleven days. 

Scarcely had the ship been secured when she was 
boarded by a French officer who informed the Ameri- 
cans that the Emperor, in view of the war between 
the " North and South United States," had prohibited 
war ships of either from remaining in French ports 
longer than twenty-four hours at a time. Captain 
Townsend explained that the ship's masts were in need 
of repairs and that they were short of coal. Upon 
learning this, the French Governor very graciously 
granted an extension of time. 

As soon as this official visit had been concluded, the 
Wachusett was surrounded by " bumboats " — craft 
having goods or fruit for sale, such as sailors would 
be likely to buy after a voyage at sea. The half 
clothed natives were not especially attractive to the 
Americans but, as our men in their passage from 



FISITING FRENCH fFJRSHIPS 93 

Boston, had been fed mostly on salt provisions, there 
was, for a time, the liveliest kind of a market scene 
about the ship. 

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Philip went on 
shore with Captain Townsend to pay the official visit 
all commanders of war ships are expected to make, 
when entering a foreign port. Arriving at the land- 
ing place, the Americans were received by an aide to 
the French Governor and were conducted by him to 
the palace, where, with much formahty, they were 
presented to His Excellency. 

The Governor was extremely polite and, after re- 
freshments, showed the Americans all over his ex- 
tensive gardens. Philip said: "The grounds were 
magnificent as compared to anything in the United 
States. His yard and parks were beautifully laid out 
and filled with all the tropical flowers and fruits. It 
now being in the height of the season, of course, 
everything was overflowing with ' something of its 
kind.' He had a great many pets about, such as the 
American dove, deer, birds and fowls; but his par- 
ticular pet is a horse and buggy of pure Yankee breed 
and manufacture — they having been sent to him by 
an American gentleman in New York. They are 
great curiosities to the natives." 



94 AT MARTINIQUE 

Before leaving the palace the American officers re- 
ceived an invitation from the Governor to dine with 
him the following week. The remainder of the day 
was spent m sight-seeing. Philip found the town to 
be composed mostly of two-story houses with red 
tile roofs, the streets broad and beautifully shaded by 
tropical trees and remarkably clean. They were filled 
with children, begging for money from the " rich 
Americans." 

Two days later Philip visited the French war ship 
Acheron and, after inspecting her in true Yankee 
style, he pronounced her to be " miserable and dirty 
from truck to keel and, after leaving our cards, we 
took leave of the polite officer of the deck and his 
dirty craft." 

Philip, with Captain Townsend, then went on 
shore to inspect the naval dry dock and govern- 
ment yards which he, also, with true American 
pride, declared to be inferior to anything of 
the like in the United States — " that, at all events, 
is the opinion of two New York Dutchmen," as he 
pungently expressed it. 

On the following Sunday Philip and Pegram, after 
attending the usual services in the ship, went ashore 
to see how the city looked on the Sabbath. They 



''ME NO SPEAKEE ENGLISH" 95 

walked to the outskirts to see the Crucifix, which is on 
a hill, in full view of the whole town, and is intended 
to represent the Savior and the two thieves. The 
figures were life size, sculptured in marble, and around 
them were images, holy water, burning wax tapers, etc. 

Afterward the officers visited the monument to Em- 
press Josephine who was born in Martinique. It was 
in the principal square of the city and was carved in 
the finest Italian marble. Philip found the city ex- 
tremely lively on this day, as it was the custom for 
people, many miles around, to come in and make a 
general holiday of it. 

That evening, about ten o'clock, while Philip was 
chatting with Pegram and Latch in the Wachusett's 
wardroom, the officer of the deck sent down word 
that a large steamer was coming into the harbor. It 
was so dark, at the time, that it was impossible to make 
out her identity. 

Of course, for the moment, the Confederate 
cruiser Shenandoah was thought of and, hastening on 
deck, Philip ordered the ship cleared for action and 
every preparation made for immediate battle. Much 
to the disappointment of all the stranger proved to be 
a harmless French passenger ship, " and again, our 
hopes are blighted," said PhiHp. 



96 AT MARTINIQUE 

It was while the Wachusett was coaling at Mar- 
tinique that an incident occurred which reveals Philip's 
singular ability to read character and to remember 
faces. There was a long gangplank leading from the 
ship to the coal wharf (to which she had been 
moored) up and down which more than three hundred 
negroes passed, bearing baskets of coal on their heads. 

In the general confusion of the moment one of the 
American sailors thought he could slip away unob- 
served and have a " good time " on shore, without 
anyone knowing it. Going below, he changed his 
uniform for plain clothes and passed down the gang- 
plank undetected but, when he reached the gate of the 
coal yard, he met Philip who immediately recognized 
him and asked : — 

"What are you doing here?" 

Without any hesitancy the man replied : — 

" Me no speakee English." 

Philip took in the situation at a glance and, with- 
out more ado, turned the man over to the corporal of 
the guard. Philip narrated this incident at the mess- 
table that evening with considerable glee, for he was 
quick to see the humorous side of life. 

On another occasion Philip remarked of a certain 
petty officer: — 



AN OFFICIAL DINNER 97 

" That man is a rascal. He is a good seaman and 
all right, so far as his duties go, but I believe he is a 
rascal." 

And surely enough, it so turned out for, after the 
return of the Wachusett to the United States, this 
man was convicted of a crime and served a term in 
prison. There he met an untimely death, being 
caught in the belting of machinery in a brave attempt 
to save another. 

The peculiar manner of coaling ship in this port 
is interestingly described by Philip as follows: 
" When all was ready the company sent a force of 
about two hundred women and one hundred and 
fifty men to coal us. I was amused to see how nicely 
they managed it, for coaling with baskets is done very 
rapidly. The men filled the baskets from an im- 
mense pile of coal while the women took the baskets 
on their heads, brought them on board and dumped 
the coal into our bunkers. 

" It seemed quite strange to see the men do the 
lighter work and the women the heaviest of all. Al- 
though they are all negroes, I did not approve, ex- 
actly, of the style — although I do approve of making 
negroes work." 

This method of coaling, though very rapid, makes 



98 AT MARTINIQUE 

" a tremendously dirty ship " ; the fine dust penetrat- 
ing every nook and corner. Instead of hiring the 
laborers by the day or week, the company gave each 
a check for every basket of coal carried aboard and 
at night paid for work actually done. This was to 
accommodate those " weary souls " who wished to 
stop work whenever they felt like it. 

At six o'clock that evening, Captain Townsend and 
Philip went ashore to attend the much dreaded official 
dinner; to which they had been invited on the first 
day of their arrival in port. The Governor (who 
was a captain in the French navy) with ten other 
naval officers, met the Americans and gave them " a 
pure French dinner in the very best style." 

In the matter of conversation, however, the Ameri- 
cans found themselves very much at sea. First, they 
tried to talk in French, but Philip found that Naval 
Academy French was very different from the " real 
thing." The Frenchmen gallantly charged to the res- 
cue by attempting English, on which they (doubtless- 
ly) prided themselves — before the natives of Mar- 
tinique. But that, also, proved to be a forlorn hope. 
Then began a smattering clash of French and Eng- 
lish, with the " decision " still In doubt at this writ- 
ing. 



" SLEEPY — BUTO. K." 99 

At all events, Philip says: " We had a delightful 
time, . . . After dinner we returned to the sit- 
ting room, sipped coffee, smoked cigars and then re- 
paired to the billiard room and played a game or two 
with the French officers. We returned to the ship 
at 3.15 A. M., exceedingly sleepy — but O. K." 

Philip attended a number of other official dinners 
while in this port and invariably spoke of the court- 
eous treatment he received from the French officers. 

The Americans were the more agreeably surprised 
at this cordiality, as France had assumed such an un- 
friendly attitude toward the United States during our 
conflict with the South. The compliments were duly 
returned but, that Philip was on his guard against the 
" effects of blarney," is fully shown by the several 
entries in his journal in which he noted the recent 
inimical acts of which France had been guilty. 



'.L.ofC. 



CHAPTER VII. 

TWO SERIOUS PREDICAMENTS 

From the time of the JVachusetfs arrival at Mar- 
tinique, to the day of her sailing from that place, there 
had been persistent rumors afloat that one or more 
Confederate cruisers were on the watch, outside, wait- 
ing to attack her. More significance was attached to 
these reports, inasmuch as the Wachusett had es- 
pecially aroused the ire of the Southerners (and that 
of their English and French sympathizers) on ac- 
count of her illegal attack on the Florida in the harbor 
of Bahia, the year before. 

The Alabama, at a comparatively recent date, had 
touched at Martinique; having escaped the vigilance 
of the San Jacinto (which had been blockading her 
there) only by a night dash for the liberty, in which 
a clever stratagem figured prominently. That the 
officers of the Wachusett placed some credence in these 
rumors is shown in the fact that extra precautions 
were taken to guard against a repetition of the 

I GO 



THE FLORIDA'S BALEFUL SHADE loi 

JV achiisett-Florida tactics in which the Shenandoah 
might take the offensive. 

None of the sailors was permitted to go ashore and 
only one or two officers at a time. Philip made the 
acquaintance of the pilot who had taken the Alabama 
out and, from him, learned how easy it was for a 
ship, at night, to escape a blocking force under cover 
of the high mountains — not that any desire was felt 
aboard the national cruiser to avoid a fight ( for the 
utmost eagerness was manifested to engage) but, so 
as to be prepared for any emergency that might arise. 

It was while these rumors were in circulation that 
an accident befell the fVachusett which, undoubtedly, 
caused her officers gravest anxiety. Having repaired 
her spars, replenished her coal supply, and in every 
respect being in readiness to resume her long voyage 
for China, Philip, at five o'clock on the afternoon of 
March 29th, called " All hands up anchor." The 
" bower " was weighed, the ship got under way but, 
in making a turn, she ran hard and fast aground on 
the rocks under Fort St. Louis. 

This, indeed, was a serious predicament for the 
Wachusett to be placed in for, should the Shenandoah 
now come into port she would have had the JVachu- 
sett at her mercy. That the French and English 



I02 TWO SERIOUS PREDICAMENTS 

naval officers, then at Martinique, would not have in- 
terfered very seriously; and, in fact, would have been 
glad to have this " equity delt out," the JVachusetfs 
officers had every reason to believe. 

In keeping with the perversity of fate, that seemed 
to cling to the JVachusett since the Florida attack, 
only a day or so before running aground, the English 
line of battle ship Duncan, (flying the broad pennant 
of Admiral Hope) put into the harbor of Fort de 
France and anchored. 

It was Admiral Hope who was in Bahia when the 
JVachusett made her attack on the Florida and be- 
friended the Confederate crew. " We had reason to 
believe," records Philip, " that the English Admiral, 
so far from desiring to aid us, would have been only 
too glad to have seen the JVachusett lay down her 
bones right then and there." 

In this conjecture, however, Philip was most agree- 
ably surprised, for Admiral Hope very handsomely 
came to the Wachusetfs assistance — as will be seen 
in the following entry in the diary: " The English 
and French Admirals, on noticing the mishap to the 
JVachusett, immediately sent officers on board tender- 
ing assistance and, directly afterward, sent launches 
with anchors and cables to assist us in getting off." 



HARD AND FAST AGROUND! 103 

Notwithstanding the fact that night was fast com- 
ing on, the Americans planted two heavy anchors 
astern, passed a hawser to a French frigate and hove 
away upon them all. But, although the ship backed 
hard with her engines and set her topsails aback In the 
face of a strong breeze, she would not budge. The 
effort was continued until nine o'clock when the pilot 
announced that it was " dead low water," upon which 
the English and Frenchmen returned to their several 
ships and the Americans were " piped down." 

Early the next morning, the French Admiral sent 
a couple of lighters alongside the Wachusett, with all 
his empty coal bags, and the Americans began the 
tedious and disagreeable task of taking out all the 
coal (with which they had just filled their bunkers), 
putting it in the bags and placing them In the lighters 
in the hope of floating the ship. 

This work was continued all that day and through 
the following night. The forward guns were run aft 
so as to lighten the bow of the ship. Philip said: 
*' It Is quite dangerous here; although directly under 
the walls of Fort St. Louis, we are two feet out of 
water at the bow and are lying on coral and rocks; 
while, at Intervals, the ship Is thumping heavily." 

At daylight, March 30th, all the coal having been 



104 TWO SERIOUS PREDICAMENTS 

transferred to the lighters, the Americans again 
hauled away on all the hawsers and, in a short time, 
had the pleasure of seeing the Wachusett again in 
deep water. 

The French Admiral continued his kindness by 
sending his diver and apparatus aboard the fVachu- 
sett. The diver went down and found that very lit- 
tle damage had been sustained; only two pieces of 
copper having been torn off and the " shoe " started 
a little athwart ship. This Injury he repaired. 

Philip comments on the episode as follows : " It 
is very mortifying to get aground just as you are leav- 
ing port but, it is more so, when you are compelled to 
accept assistance from the English and French when 
so much ill-feeling exists against them In the United 
States for their acts of assistance to the Confederacy. 
None of our officers had Intended to call on the Eng- 
lishmen but, after their kind acts last night, we called 
on them." 

This was the first " serious predicament " men- 
tioned in this chapter. The second was not an affair 
of the ship but of the heart. 

After spending a day or so In replacing the coal and 
cleaning up the ship, the Wachusett, at daylight April 
1st, steamed northward. 



"YOUNG FRENCH LADIES" 105 

Before noon she dropped anchor off the city of St. 
Pierre where she found the United States war steamer 
Connecticut. Although she had left Boston, about 
the time the Wachusett did, It seemed like meeting an 
old friend " and we all went on board of her and spent 
the evening. We found her oiEcers delighted with 
their ship and their crulsmg grounds." Nearly a 
month before the Connecticut had sailed for the West 
Indies and the Wachusett for the East Indies; yet, 
here, by the merest chance, they had run across each 
other In this secluded corner of the globe. 

Philip's bashfulness In the presence of women, has 
already been mentioned In this work, but from en- 
tries In his diary made at St. Pierre, It Is evident that 
his embarrassment must have been considerably 
" worn off " or was so cleverly circumvented by " two 
or three young French ladles," that " It was decidedly 
the pleasantest time on shore I have had since leaving 
Boston." 

After spending the morning In seeing the " sights " 
of St. Pierre, Philip, at six o'clock In the evening went 
on shore with Captain Townsend and dined at the 
home of the American Consul, Mr. GIvens. " Wc 
had a very pleasant time and spent the evening with 
Mr. and Mrs. GIvens and two or three young French 



io6 TJVO SERIOUS PREDICAMENTS 

ladles. It was decidedly the pleasantest time on shore 
I have had since leaving Boston; but, of course, it is 
only an aggravation to know a person for so short a 
period, then have to go to sea — and forget it all ! " 

Evidently the young women reciprocated Philip's 
interest in them for he records, on the following day : 
" Cleaned up the ship a little extra this morning in 
anticipation of receiving some visitors from the 
shore " — the " two or three young French ladies " 
were expected. 

They came, they saw and, undoubtedly, would have 
conquered had the Wachusett remained in that port a 
day longer, for Philip says: " At noon Mr. Givens 
and wife came on board and took breakfast with the 
Captain; I joining the party. As Mrs. Givens was 
an American lady, the Captain had everything ar- 
ranged as nearly like home as possible so as to let her 
see that a man-of-war was not such a bad place to 
live in as was generally supposed. Having a lady 
with us for breakfast this morning, we readily 
Imagined that we were a little nearer home and civi- 
lization. 

" After breakfast some French gentlemen and three 
of their lady friends came on board to see the Wachu- 
sett. After showing them all over the ship we ad- 



"GLORIOUS NEWS" 107 

journed to the upper cabin where the Captain set out 
refreshments. All the ladies had been in the United 
States and could speak English which, of course, made 
it more agreeable to all of us. While down in the 
wardroom, the ladies, naturally, wished to see my room 
and, on being shown in, said that It was altogether too 
small to occupy for so long a time (three years) with- 
out change and, therefore, I received much sympathy 
etc., for being obliged to leave everything of comfort 
behind and to content myself with my little slx-by- 
eight foot locker." 

After recording that, had not the Wachusett been 
scheduled to sail early on the following morning, " I 
certainly would have accepted the ladies' kind Invita- 
tion to spend the evening at their homes and enjoyed 
myself still more," Philip concludes: " I only wish 
that we could remain here a week or two longer." 

Philip, however, received some consolation In this 
sad parting by the receipt of " glorious news," late 
that night, from the United States. Indeed, we have 
yet to learn of the occasion when Philip's patriotism 
and loyalty to his profession were not paramount to 
all other feelings. 

Under the same date he says : " The English mail 
steamer touched here from St. Thomas and brought 



io8 TWO SERIOUS PREDICAMENTS 

glorious news from the United States of continued 
victories of our noble armies — and gold down to 
162 ! This news put us in the best of spirits. May 
to God that all the news that we may hereafter re- 
ceive, be of the most glowing character until we hear 
finally of peace throughout our whole country: North, 
South, East and West! " 



CHAPTER VIII. 

ACROSS THE ATLANTIC 

It is not often that landfolk have an opportunity to 
make a voyage In a man-of-war and it Is seldom that 
we get so Interesting a daily record of such a sea trip 
as Philip has left us. Although the passage of the 
fVachusett, from Martinique to the Cape de Verdes, 
was not marked by any incident of extraordinary note, 
the voyage itself was a most charming one and has 
been most charmingly described by this officer. 

Philip was a delightful fellow traveler. All who 
have ever journeyed with him (even for a brief time) 
will cheerfully testify to this. And, perhaps, no- 
where does his keen appreciation of the beauties of 
nature appear to better advantage than in that sec- 
tion of his diary in which he describes the ship's lei- 
surely course across the Atlantic, in almost the exact 
reverse of that taken by Cervera thirty-three years 
later. 

His descriptions of calms, sunsets and moonlight 
109 



no ACROSS THE ATLANTIC 

on the ocean; the nervous efforts of the coquettish 
Wachusett to " run away " from a " rotary storm," 
her appointment with the dashing " trade winds " at 
some lonely spot and on a certain date In the Atlantic, 
her flirtation with the " trades " until In a moment of 
caprice she jilted them and ran off laughing with the 
rival " variables," are well worthy of preservation. 

At daylight, April 4th, the Wachusett weighed 
anchor and, steaming out of the harbor of St. Pierre, 
skirted along the Island northward. Passing between 
Martinique and Dominica she stood eastward so as 
to clear Guadeloupe and, then, boldly pushed out into 
the broad Atlantic. By sunset the last trace of land 
had faded from the horizon, " and it will be a long, 
long time before we will again see this side of the 
ocean." 

Everything was now made snug for the run to the 
next port. The sea was very smooth but, as the 
Wachusett was steaming " head to wind," the ship 
rolled quite deep. Pleasant weather was experienced 
until toward noon of the second day out, when the at- 
mosphere changed and gave warning of an approach- 
ing storm. In the afternoon it began In all Its fury 
and continued, with increasing violence until sunset, 
when the ship was placed under reefed top-sails. 




CAPTAIN ROBERT TOWNSEND, U. S. N. 



AN OCEAN DERELICT iii 

" This being a rotary storm," said Philip, " and the 
wind increasing from the northeast, we knew that the 
center of it would be to the southeast and that we were 
on the edge of the circle; so, by running eastward 
(which was our course), we were fast approaching 
the vortex. In order to avoid this, we wore ship and 
stood to the north and west and, as we sailed on, the 
storm died away and passed In its fury astern." 

Thus, after turning out of her course for a few 
hours, the Wachiisett dodged a storm that might have 
caused her much injury. The following day, she en- 
joyed favorable weather and was again jogging along 
on her lonely path over the dreary waste of water. 

Toward the close of that day, the breeze died out 
and, in order to get out of the track of the unfavorable 
" trade winds " and strike the " variables," she 
steamed northeast — again out of her direct course. 

" To-night," said Philip, " we had one of the most 
beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. The heaven pre- 
sented a magnificent sight in the west, while there were 
two superb rainbows in the opposite quarter." 

In order to economize coal, the ship was kept under 
sail power alone, as much as possible; the propeller 
being detached so that she was then in every respect 
a sailing ship. For two days the JVachusett con- 



112 ACROSS THE ATLANTIC 

tinued forcing her way northward in the hope of fall- 
ing in with the " variables," which were to carry her 
over to the coast of Africa. In these two days she 
met some heavy weather and on one occasion came 
near rolling her lOO-pounder rifles overboard. 

Under date of April loth Philip records: " The 
weather seems again more natural and like that of 
New York, for we have laid aside our summer cloth- 
ing and have returned to the thicker and warmer 
styles; and during the night watches the officer of the 
deck may be seen pacing up and down the quarter- 
deck with his large overcoat on." 

By the 1 2th of April the Wachtisett had run out of 
the region of " trade winds " and entered that of the 
calms, which precede the " variables." At sunset a 
large piece of timber was discovered in the water and, 
thinking that it might give trace of some lost ship, a 
boat was lowered and Pegram put off to investigate. 
Finding that it was useless, he returned and, after 
getting on board, remarked: " It almost made me 
seasick to see the old TVachusett roll so much, when 
there was no cause for it " — it being almost calm at 
the time. 

" This," wrote Philip, " is one of the most beauti- 
ful evenings at sea that can be experienced. It Is a 



A BEAUTIFUL DESCRIPTION 113 

dead calm, the water as smooth as a mill pond, with 
the exception of the long, graceful swell ; a full, bright 
moon and not a cloud to be seen in the sky. As a re- 
sult, we are all in excellent spirits and will continue so 
— so long as we are blessed with such weather." 

At sunrise, April 13th, the JVachusett felt the first 
caresses of the *' variables." It was for this wooer 
that she had dodged the " rotary storm," jilted the 
" trades " and had hurried several hundred miles 
northward to hold a clandestine meeting in this lonely 
part of the Atlantic. " So at 8 A. M.," recorded 
Philip, " we stopped the engines, disconnected the pro- 
peller, banked the fires, made all sail 'low and aloft, 
and headed eastward to run down the longitude." 

But the fickle JVachusett had been with the " vari- 
ables " scarcely two days when she had a violent quar- 
rel with this lover for, under date of April 15th, 
Philip notes : " At 8 A. M. this morning, while in a 
very heavy squall, the wind suddenly changed to the 
northeast, throwing the ship flat-aback; with all sails 
set to studding sails, on her. We were obliged to 
take in the studding sails, brace round on the other 
tack and reduce down to topsails and fore-and-aft- 
sails. As the wind came out in great violence and 
very suddenly, before the JVachusett could be brought 



114 ACROSS THE ATLANTIC 

on the right tack, with yards and sails trimmed, she 
had gathered stern-board and was thus placed in quite 
a perilous position. Blowing very hard all day and 
the rain came down in torrents until midnight, when It 
partially cleared up. The night is very dark and 
' dirty,' with heavy winds still from the northeast. 
The sea is very rough and phosphorescent, which 
gives everything a ghastly appearance." 

Violent as the quarrel between the Wachusett and 
the " variables " has been, it proved to be of short 
duration for, on the following day (Sunday), Philip 
notes: "A beautiful day from sunrise to sunset; 
calm, with the sea as smooth as possible and the old 
ship lying lazily on the gently heaving bosom of the 
ocean, with ' yards-a-box ' for wind; sails flapping 
against the masts and rigging and the vessel just mov- 
ing with the swells as she heads to all or any point of 
the compass " — a beautiful and graphic description 
of a " sea-condition " ; one seamen will appreciate. 

About midday, a small bottle was seen a short dis- 
tance from the ship and, thinking that it might con- 
tain some message from a lost craft, the dingey was 
lowered and It was brought aboard. Evidently, It 
had been In the water a long time, for It was covered 
with barnacles and small shell fish. 



"A NOBLE DAY" 115 

It contained, however, no message. Philip said: 
" Ships at sea always make a practice of picking up 
everything of the kind — If possible to do so — for 
sailors, when in a gale of wind, often write down on 
a piece of paper their names, position etc., put it in 
a bottle, seal it up and heave it overboard to be 
picked up later, so that, if they perish, some trace 
may still be had of their misfortune." 

That the Wachusett was. Indeed, In the " va- 
riables " was fully attested by the variety of weather 
she experienced the next few days. It was of all 
sorts and conditions — from howling gales and 
blinding rain storms to gentle zephyrs and " dead " 
calms. On April 19th, when the ship was rolling 
at her worst, Philip records : " One cannot eat, 
sleep, read or write with any degree of pleasure, be- 
cause you are obliged to brace yourself and hold on 
to anything fast to keep from going from one side 
of the wardroom to the other. While eating our 
meals, our plates and dishes would take an angle of 
forty-five degrees, if we did not hold and balance them 
with the roll of the ship. So much for going to sea 
when one ought to remain on shore." 

The Wachusett was now sixteen hundred miles 
from her port and, being again in the track of com- 



ii6 ACROSS THE ATLANTIC 

merce, she sighted a number of sails daily. By Sun- 
day, April 23d, she had come into the warmer in- 
fluence of the latitude of the Cape de Verdes which 
Philip graphically describes as follows: "This has 
been one of the most beautiful days that can ever be 
experienced at sea. Not a cloud in the sky, the sea 
smooth, the ship on her course, with studding sails 
set on both sides, and with as much wind as we desire 
for the safety of our masts and yards. 

" It has been a noble day for meditation and reflec- 
tion. Taking advantage of it, my thoughts naturally 
ran back to the banks of the grand little Hudson 
and there I allowed them to linger as long as time 
would permit ; and, although I cannot see or communi- 
cate with the cherished ones there for a long time 
to come, yet I console myself with the thought and 
belief that they are still in possession of health. And, 
perhaps, that, this Sunday evening, they will think 
of the absent one and finally offer a prayer for the 
lonely bark here In mid-ocean. Would that I could 
take my place this evening In the family group ! " 

By the following day the JVachusett had jilted the 
" variables " and begun a flirtation with her old lover, 
the " trades." In order to reach them, she was 
obliged to pass over the " calm belt " and in doing 



"A HORRID CYCLONE " 117 

this she had a narrow escape from falling into the 
clutches of a horrid cyclone. 

On April 25th the barometer fell very low and 
suddenly, although there was not the slightest indica- 
tion of an approaching storm. There was one, how- 
ever, and a very ugly one, too; lying in wait for the 
pretty JVachusett, not far off, for Philip says: " At 
sunset the weather changed and gave positive signs of 
a cyclone passing near to us; but fortunately it ran 
clear of our track. To-night the sea is quite high 
and as it comes up astern of us, it overtakes and 
breaks alongside and very often, in her rolling, the 
Wachiisett is too accommodating and takes in large 
quantities of water on her deck — which is very un- 
comfortable for all. But then, this is what we must 
expect and abide by, as it is our business to ' Go down 
to the sea in ships.' " 

Having so fortunately passed over the dreaded 
" calm belt," this capricious maiden of the sea, on 
the 29th of April, rushed into the arms of her old 
lover, the " trade wind," and was that day carried in 
triumph into Porto Grande, of the Cape de Verdes. 



CHAPTER IX. 

CAPE DE VERDES 

Philip had now crossed the Atlantic ocean for the 
first time, and his keen mind was quick to note the 
strange scenes and customs of the people among 
whom he found himself. What Immediately im- 
pressed him was the conspicuous absence of the Amer- 
ican flag. Porto Grande had become a coaling de- 
pot and a general stopping place for merchantmen of 
all nationalities and, although the harbor was crowded 
with shipping at the time of the JVachusetfs arrival, 
not one American ensign was flying save that from 
her own gaff — a silent yet eloquent reminder of how 
our commerce had been annihilated. 

It was with evident delight that Philip noted, on 
the day after their arrival: " a small Yankee whaling 
schooner came In this afternoon and anchored near 
us, flying the first Yankee flag we have seen [on a 
merchantman] since we left the United States. It 
was a very agreeable sight, although at the masthead 

ii8 



"I SOON GOT DISGUSTED" 119 

of a small whaler — yet we feel a little nearer to 
the land of the free." 

Apparently the crew of the whaler was quite as 
delighted by the sight of Old Glory on the Wachusett 
for, a few days after, when the ship was Indulging 
in target practice with her great guns, the crew of 
the whaler, every time a shot hit the mark, would 
mount her rail and give three hearty cheers. The 
firing was unusually accurate, although it was the 
first time the guns had been used on this cruise. 

Another feature that attracted Philip's attention 
was the profile of a man's head formed by the moun- 
tains across the bay, which Americans called " Wash- 
ington's Head," and, " in fact, a great resemblance 
can be traced and with very little stretch of the imag- 
ination ; his profile (as seen anywhere at home) can be 
made out; the forehead, eyes and nose with the chin 
are, in fact, excellent. But the part for the top of 
the head and the hair is not so good. 

" Although we call it Washington, all Englishmen 
here call it the Duke of Wellington. Each party is 
at liberty to name it what it pleases, yet the likeness 
is there and more pronounced than that of the Old 
Man of the Mountains in the Catskills — familiar 
to us all along the Hudson." 



I20 CAPE DE FERDES 

Porto Grande proved to be the " most miserable 
place I have ever visited." It had a population of 
about one thousand Inhabitants, only a few of whom 
were whites; the greater part being of African de- 
scent, speaking a jargon of Portuguese, English and 
French — with a little of their African dialect 
mingled in. The Island Itself was barren, not a 
blade of grass to be seen; the fruit and vegetables 
being brought from adjacent Islands which were fer- 
tile. 

On May 2d Philip visited the town on business 
" but, soon getting disgusted with the place I returned 
on board, perfectly satisfied to remain by the old 
Wachusett so long as we had no better place than 
Porto Grande to visit." 

On the second day after her arrival, the Wachusett 
began re-coaling, and found It a much different opera- 
tion from that she had experienced at Martinique. 
At this place the coal was towed alongside In lighters 
by a small tug and transferred to the ship's bunkers 
by hand. The coal " was bought from an English 
firm," said Philip, " and they were very accommodat- 
ing; being willing to give us everything In their power. 
Coaling a steamer is one of the most disagreeable 
tasks; the dirt penetrating every corner. For this 



NEWS FROM HOME 121 

reason I would prefer to cruise In the old sailing ships 
as in the days long gone by." In this remark Philip 
has given expression to the real opposition of the old- 
time seamen to the introduction of steam power in 
war ships. 

At daybreak, May 6th, the French mall steamer 
Peluse, from Marseilles, came in and anchored. Be- 
ing " hungry for news," the JVachusett immediately 
sent a boat aboard and learned the sad tidings of 
President Lincoln's assassination and the attempt to 
murder General Grant and Secretary Seward. " As 
this news was in all the different papers," said Philip, 
" we were obliged to believe it and, consequently, we 
felt low-spirited all day and had the flag at half mast. 

" In connection with this, we also heard the glad 
news of the surrender of General Lee's whole army 
and other glorious tidings which, upon the whole, 
may be considered good news and that the war Is 
about terminated and that the death of the Presi- 
dent (although very sad at this time) will not delay 
the progress of our victorious arms but will rather 
fire the Northern hearts." 

A more serious phase of the news brought by the 
mail steamer — one that Immediately affected the 
JVachusett — however, was : " All the papers that 



122 CAPE DE FERDES 

we received to-day, English, French and Portuguese, 
strongly favor our Government and acknowledge that 
peace will soon follow. But it is also rumored that 
the United States have made a very large demand on 
England for her share in the Confederate commerce 
destroyers and that we have recalled Mr. Adams from 
the Court of St. James; and that war must follow. 
As far as the navy is concerned, I think that we all, 
officers and men, will rejoice when official information 
Is received of that fact, for I believe that we can 
punish England in the manner she richly deserves for 
the part she took in the civil war." 

On the day following, Sunday, May 7th, after the 
usual services. Captain Townsend read to the crew 
the telegraphic message in regard to the death of 
President Lincoln and the surrender of the Confed- 
erate army under General Lee. The ship's colors 
were hoisted at half mast and half-hour guns were 
fired as a slight token of regard for the martyr Presi- 
dent at this distant corner of the Atlantic. 

In no other entry in Philip's diary does his patriot- 
ism show to better advantage than in that which he 
records the efficiency of the Wachusetfs crew in tar- 
get practice. Under date of May 8th, he says: 
*' This morning we again exercised the crew at firing 



PORT PRAY A 123 

at a target, Bird Rock. Although this Is only the 
second time our guns have been fired, we were all most 
agreeably surprised at the result; for, of all the shells 
fired from the rifles, only one missed the target, and 
that was not the fault of the pointing for the shell 
tumbled and so fell short." 

It is with pardonable pride that Philip added : " the 
passengers In the mall steamers were up with their 
glasses watching the effect of each shot and, as each 
one struck where we desired, I have no doubt that all 
outsiders could not help admiring it for it was, truly, 
one of the finest target practices from a ship In mo- 
tion I have ever seen ; In fact, I do not believe It could 
be excelled by the best drilled crew In the service." 

At eight o'clock on the evening of May 9th the 
cry, " All hands up anchor," was welcomed In the 
Wachiisett and In a few moments the ship was steam- 
ing out of the harbor of Porto Grande, under a low 
head of steam, bound for Port Praya. She ran down 
the coast of St. Vincent and then headed for the is- 
land of St. Jago, where the frigate Constitution made 
her miraculous escape from the British squadron un- 
der Sir George Collier, in 18 15. 

This, of course, was not off the " Blue Canary 
Isles " where " I smoked my last cigar," but the 



124 CAPE DE FERDES 

essence of that sentiment is fully supplied in the fol- 
lowing extract from Philip's diary under date of May 
9th: "To-night Is beautiful, the sea very smooth, 
trade winds blowing quite fresh and it is very warm. 
The moon Is full and shining In all Its glory with the 
great Southern Cross very bright In the southern 
horizon. All the officers and men are In excellent 
spirits." 

At four o'clock on the afternoon of May loth, 
the JVachusett dropped anchor in Port Praya. Ob- 
serving an American brig getting under way, and 
learning that she was bound for Boston, a boat at once 
put out from the war ship and sent letters aboard her 
to be carried home. 

One of the prominent traits in Philip's character 
was that he usually expressed himself bluntly — very 
much to the point — whether In complimentary or 
condemnatory terms. His comments on the Inhab- 
itants of the various ports at which his ship stopped, 
were much like the man himself — " straight from 
the shoulder." 

But in justice to the late Admiral, It should be re- 
membered that. In all probability, he never expected 
that what he was so frankly entering In his private 
journal would ever be placed before the public in cold 



PHILIP'S "AMERICANISM" 125 

type. As we read through the time-discolored pages 
we feel that we are in the sacred presence of the man's 
very soul, and that we should regard his criticisms as 
being what he " thought to himself " rather than a 
public declaration before his fellow men. 

Another of his strong traits, which frequently re- 
veals itself in his diary, was his dislike for official 
ceremonials in foreign ports and his constant yearning 
for the " American Tea Table." Wherever he went 
it was his delight to search out quiet American fam- 
ilies ; and his keen relish for home-like scenes are fully 
evident in his diary. 

It was in reference to this that Admiral Higginson 
says: "Philip had a great scorn for convention- 
alities and his innate shyness made him avoid society, 
balls and parties. Whenever we were going to give 
an entertainment on board, Phihp, after rendering all 
the assistance in his power to make it a success, would, 
generally, when the time came for the guests to ar- 
rive, go ashore. Nor did he frequent clubs but 
would, preferably, when abroad, go to some quiet 
American home where an American tea table and cus- 
toms were kept up. 

" Although most of my intimacy with Admiral 
Philip was in his young days, I can truly say that I 



126 CAPE DE FERDES 

never heard him swear or saw him drink. He never 
touched liquor after leaving the Naval Academy in 
1861. He had once, while a cadet, felt the evil 
effects of liquor and, without any persuasion but of 
his own free will, said to himself: ' I will never 
touch another drop of that stuff as long as I live ' — ■ 
and he never did." 

Three days after the fVachusett's arrival in Port 
Praya, Philip attended an official dinner given to the 
ship's officers, by the Governor-General; but, as it 
was in an " informal style," it better suited our hero's 
taste. None of the Portuguese officials could speak 
English and the Americans were equally innocent of 
Portuguese and, there not being a third tongue com- 
mon to them, there was the usual difficulty in ex- 
changing sentiments. " Nevertheless," recorded 
Philip, " we all seemed to enjoy ourselves throughout 
the evening." 

At the time of the Wachusett's visit at Port Praya, 
rain had not fallen on the island for three years and, 
In consequence, the people were In great distress; 
many dying from starvation every day. " Last year 
about twenty thousand people starved to death and 
the Governor told us to-day that at least twenty-five 
thousand would starve this year." Philip visited a 



ANOTHER SHENANDOAH "SCARE" 127 

stockade, just outside the city, in which were huddled 
together from two to three thousand men, women and 
children — in the last stages of starvation. 

The Government allowed them about a quart of 
yellow corn, boiled every day, which merely prolonged 
their miserable existence a few days more. " Those 
who are yet alive," said Philip, " present the most 
horrible pictures you can imagine. Pen cannot de- 
scribe it. They remind me (in bodily condition) 
mostly of our noble soldiers as they appeared when 
returned from Andersonville or other Confederate 
prisons." 

A day or so after this Philip, while walking along 
the street In company with the Arherlcan Consul (Mr. 
Moose), saw a woman, barely alive, totter along the 
middle of the street and then fall dead. Inquiring 
the cause of It he was answered In one word : — 

" Starvation." 

The Consul further said that It was common 
to see people fall dead In the street every day. 
There seems to have been enough salt provisions 
stored away in the town but they could only be had 
for cash. 

About three o'clock on the afternoon of May 13th, 
the Wachusett's people had another " Confederate 



128 CAPE DE FERDES 

commerce-destroyer scare " — if " scare " It could be 
called in such a gallant crew. A steamer, bearing the 
strongest resemblance to the Shenandoah, approached 
the harbor from the sea and, being In hopes that she 
might prove an enemy, Philip got up steam, prepared 
to slip the chain cable and cleared ship for imme- 
diate action. 

As the stranger steamed up the harbor, she per- 
sisted in keeping her colors on such a line with her 
masts that it was impossible, for those aboard the 
Yankee craft to make them out; which, of course, only 
strengthened the belief that she was a Confederate. 
It was not until she had anchored near the JVachusett 
that she was known to be the English sloop of war 
Zebra. 

So disappointed were the Americans by this out- 
come that, on that same evening. Captain Town- 
send and Philip paid her an official visit — just to see 
" what kind of a nut she would have been to crack," 
had she proved to be a Confederate. On getting on 
board, however, they met a number of officers from 
" another war ship, including the Governor and Cap- 
tain of the Port " — and all bellicose feelings seem 
to have vanished for they had a " jolly time " and 
did not return to the JVachusett until late at night. 



PHILIP'S HORSEMANSHIP. 129 

It is not likely that Philip entertained any ill-will 
for the Zebra's people but, if he did, he must have 
had satisfaction in recording that, on the following 
morning the Zebra put to sea for Porto Grande — 
" the poorest place I have ever visited." 

It has frequently been said that, while sailors might 
be skilful in riding the " ocean wave," they were 
usually deficient In horseback exercise. Whatever 
truth there may be In this, an exception must be made 
in Philip. Whenever an opportunity offered, Philip 
would engage a horse and ride many miles in the 
country. On one occasion, while In China, he aston- 
ished the natives by forcing his nag up a steep flight 
of stone steps. There were some good horseback- 
riders with him at the time, but none cared to follow 
the reverse of General Putnam's exploit In the Rev- 
olution. 



CHAPTER X. 

UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS 

On the morning of May 19th the Wachusett met 
with another of that series of mishaps which had so 
persistently followed her on this cruise. While 
weighing anchor, preparatory to sailing on her long 
voyage to Cape Town, it was found that the port 
" bower " (the ship having two anchors down) had 
become unshackled and was left at the bottom of the 
harbor. Philip immediately sent out both cutters 
to " drag " for It. 

About sunset they got fast to an anchor but, on 
hauling It up found that It was their starboard 
" iron fin " so that they were virtually " pulling up 
one of their own feet " — as one of the Wachusetfs 
crew expressed It. As the ship was near heavy break- 
ers and was drifting toward them, they were obliged 
to steam ahead and anchor again in a safe place. 
After supper the search for the missing " bower " 
was continued until nine o'clock that night, but with- 
out success. 

130 



A LOST ANCHOR 131 

At daylight, on the following day, search for the 
lost anchor was resumed and continued until night but 
without results, except that of locating its position. 
At one time during the day, Philip went out in the 
dingey with a machine for " looking at the bottom of 
the harbor," in hopes of finding the lost " fin." Al- 
though the water was rough, he could distinctly see 
the bottom of the harbor to the depth of forty-eight 
feet — but could not find the object of their search. 

All the next day, May 21st, the search went on, 
but with a similar lack of success. Just as the sun 
was going down, however, they got fast to it but, on 
endeavoring to raise it they lost their hold and the 
boats returned to the ship. That night Philip went 
on shore and engaged divers to go down the next 
morning. 

It was while he was on shore that he learned, from 
the superstitious people, that the Wachusett was sail- 
ing at an unlucky time. He said: " I called to bid 
farewell to some friends and while there saw an image 
of the patron saint of the Cape de Verdes, St. An- 
thony, in a dish of water with his * feet up.' These 
people believe that our ship cannot sail until St. An- 
thony comes with his * head up ' and, then, * we can 
sail under a blessing.' " The Wachusett did sail with- 



132 UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS 

out the blessing — and it will be interesting to note 
the results. 

On the two following days, search for the anchor 
was continued, both by the boat crews and the divers, 
but in vain. At one time it was found but, the 
divers going down, returned with the report that it 
was so far under the sand that it would be almost im- 
possible to raise it. May 24th and 25th were spent 
in the fruitless search. As a last resort, the Wachu- 
sett got under way, let go another " bower," and 
dragged It about the bottom In hopes of hooking onto 
the lost one. It was struck once and torn from Its 
bed but It was found to be impossible to raise it. 

The JVachusett had now spent seven days In a vain 
effort to recover her anchor and, doubtless, some of 
her people were beginning to wish that St. Anthony 
would appear with his " feet up," or any other thing 
that would enable them to resume their voyage. 

On the eighth day the search was continued but, to- 
ward sundown, It was given up and the anchor was 
entered In the ledger and logbook as "expended." 
On the morning of May 27th, " much to the joy of 
all on board, for we all were sick and disgusted with 
the town," the JVachusett left Port Praya and shaped 
her course for the Cape of Good Hope. 



ST. ANTHONY'S ''FEET UP" 133 

Of course, the intelligent officers and sailors in the 
Wachusett only laughed at the dire predictions of the 
natives of Port Praya that the voyage would be at- 
tended with ill-luck, because they had sailed while 
the image of St. Anthony " came with feet up "; but, 
in every large ship's company, there are sure to be 
found some superstitious men who are influenced by 
such nonsense. 

Those of this class in the Wachusett began re- 
counting the mishaps that had befallen them and, as 
the ship actually did enter upon a voyage that proved 
to be singularly full of embarrassing complications, 
they more loudly than ever " preached their belief." 
As we have already seen, the Wachusett was poorly 
fitted at the Boston Navy Yard and some of her spars 
were dangerously unsound, so that when she reached 
Martinique they had to be replaced. 

The superstitious sailors recounted how the ship 
had run aground under the walls of Fort St. Louis, 
at a time when it was believed that one or more Con- 
federate cruisers were near by, waiting for an op- 
portunity to attack. Furthermore, they showed how 
the ship had touched at the Cape de Verdes to obtain 
coal and provisions enough to carry her in an un- 
broken passage to Cape Town; yet, after remaining 



134 UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS 

among the islands a month, she had sailed from Port 
Praya nearly as badly off In these supplies as when 
she touched there. 

Finally, the loss of her anchor and sailing without 
" St. Anthony's blessing " added fuel to the flame so 
that it is not strange that further difficulties they were 
soon to face, compelled Captain Townsend to put 
into a Brazilian port to avoid open mutiny. 

When we remember that the Wachusett, not only 
had received orders from the Government not to enter 
a Brazlhan port (on account of the Wachusett- 
Florida affair at Bahia) but had been prohibited by 
Dom Pedro himself from again darkening Brazilian 
waters with her shadow, we can the more readily un- 
derstand the desperate straits to which she was re- 
duced when she ran into St. Catherine's for refuge. 

As we have seen, the ship left Port Praya, May 
27th, and took the usual course making for Cape of 
Good Hope; which was to sight the Island of Fer- 
nando de Noronha and then make a straight run for 
Cape Town. In accordance with this programme, 
the cruiser held a course south-southwest and in a 
day or so Philip began to realize what " hot weather " 
was. He had found it " very warm " at Martinique. 
It was now " excessively warm " and In a few days It 
was " unmercifully hot." 



" CROSSING THE LINE " 135 

In three days the ship was in the region of the 
doldrums, there being scarcely enough air to ruffle 
the smooth tranquillity of the ocean. Little effort was 
made to carry out the routine of exercises; what work 
there was done, being confined to spreading awnings 
and making improvised fans. There were frequent 
rain squalls but no wind — a peculiarity of the dol- 
drum region. 

On June second the ship approached the equator 
and Philip had his first experience with that peculiar 
ceremony, " Crossing the line." The day before, 
" Father Neptune " hailed the ship during the first 
watch and informed all hands that he intended to visit 
them on the following evening. True to his word, 
the venerable King of the Deep informed his 
" friends " — i. e. those who had crossed the line be- 
fore — that he was coming. Consequently all ship 
work was suspended so that His Salty Majesty could 
be received with due formality. 

After a mysterious bustling and rustling among 
the old salts, Old Neptune, at eight bells, in some 
manner the green hands could not understand, came 
over the side of the ship, attended by his " wife," and 
mounted a howitzer carriage. He was promptly sur- 
rounded by attendants, dressed in all the fantastic 



136 UNDER THE SOUTHERN CROSS 

styles a ship's tailor could contrive out of old sails 
and paint. When all this court ceremony was ar- 
ranged, Neptune, in stentorian tones, called out : — 

" Avast there ! All landlubbers approach ! ! " 

At this summons, the " first timers " were brought 
before His Majesty, shaved (in a not gentle manner) 
and ducked in salt water, to " season " them. Hav- 
ing finished with the crew, Neptune went aft to col- 
lect fines from the " green " officers, 

Philip was one of these and says: " After paying 
my fine, I sent them all below in the wardroom for 
refreshments. The whole affair passed off very 
pleasantly to all concerned. It was amusing to see 
these old sailors enter into such a thing with so much 
spirit and good will." 

It was not until two days later, however, that the 
Wachusett actually crossed the equator and entered 
the South Atlantic. Soon afterward she lost sight of 
the North Star and was compelled to use the great 
Southern Cross as an irregular guide by night. 

The ship now encountered fairly good weather, 
proceeding under sail alone so as to save her coal. 

It seems that, while at Port Praya, nine African 
monkeys were brought aboard for the amusement of 
the crew on the long passage to Cape Town. Their 



" MONKEY OVERBOARD " 137 

truly laughable antics afforded welcome relief, not 
only for the sailors but the officers as well. On June 
8th one of the largest monkeys fell overboard and in 
an instant the cry : — 

" Monkey overboard ! monkey overboard," could 
be heard all over the ship. 

If it had been one of the crew, instead of a dumb 
animal, it is doubtful if there would have been more 
anxiety expressed, or greater agility of movement 
made, to rescue him. The spectacle was a singular 
one — one that spoke well for the humanity of the 
Wachiisett's people. Here, we see a United States 
man-of-war, under hurry orders to reach her station 
in the Far East, stopping in the middle of the At- 
lantic ocean, her dignified officers and gallant crew 
bustling about to lower a boat just to rescue a monkey. 
Philip said: "We hove-to, lowered a boat and 
picked up the little wretch, more dead than alive; but 
he had been on board scarcely an hour before he was 
as mischievous as ever." 



CHAPTER XL 

UNDER A LEE SHORE 

It was on the nth of June, when the JVachusett 
was sixty miles from Bahia, that her real troubles be- 
gan. Exceedingly heavy squalls, accompanied by a 
deluge of rain, were met and, at one time, the ship 
was rolling so much that it became necessary to head 
her northward to prevent the masts from tumbling 
out. The wind was strong from the east and was 
continually driving the ship shoreward so that she was 
obliged to take a course south by west so as to clear 
a headland. 

The unfavorable direction of the wind prevented 
her from making much headway on her course. As 
she had scarcely any coal in her bunkers, was short of 
provisions and was a long distance from the desired 
haven, her position was rapidly becoming critical. 
" We cannot go into any Brazilian port," said Philip, 
"because they are all closed against the JVachusett 
since that Florida affair in Bahia." 

138 



NEARLY A MUTINY 139 

By the 12th of June the ship had worked her way 
to the south of Bahia and, owing to the shortage in 
the food supply the usual exercises were suspended. 
On the following day a sail was descried standing to- 
ward the Americans and, in the anxious hope that she 
might have spare provisions on board the JFachusett 
turned out of her course to speak her. At 10 A. M. 
the vessels exchanged colors and hove-to. The 
Americans promptly lowered a boat and sent an offi- 
cer aboard in quest of provisions. 

She proved to be the English bark Oheron bound 
for Chili, forty-nine days out from England, and, be- 
ing short of provisions herself, could not sell any to 
the hungry Yankees. The boat returned to the 
Wachusett and the Americans resumed their course 
*' rather low-spirited." In the course of this day two 
or three other sails appeared and the Wachusett en- 
deavored to signal them, but they were too far away 
and soon disappeared below the horizon — and with 
them vanished the last hope for immediate relief. 

About sundown the Wachusett' s crew came to the 
mast (the place in a war ship where all complaints are 
made) in a body and bluntly said that they did not 
have enough to eat and could not do the necessary 
work of the ship. Captain Townsend was still bent 



140 UNDER A LEE SHORE 

on reaching Cape Town before touching land else- 
where and, in order to make his provisions hold out, 
had been keeping the crew on half rations. 

But now he found that there were only supplies 
enough on board (owing to the spoiling of salt meat 
purchased in the Cape de Verdes) for eighteen days, 
so that it was imperative to touch at some port on this 
side of the Atlantic. Therefore, he determined to 
run down to Montevideo, in Uruguay and replenish 
there. Accordingly the men were placed on full ra- 
tions again, as no one aboard dreamed it would take 
eighteen days to reach the Uruguayan port, distant 
only a few hundred miles. 

The night of June 15th was one of great anxiety 
aboard the Wachusett, as she was then between Bahia 
and Cape Frio and was compelled to weather some 
dangerous rocks in the ocean sixty miles from the 
coast. They were called Albrohos or " keep eyes 
open " and were much dreaded by mariners. 

About one o'clock in the morning the ship passed 
the rocks in safety but, in order to make sure that she 
was again In deep water, Philip got a cast of the deep- 
sea lead and found a sand and shell bottom at one 
hundred and fifty feet. 

By daylight, June 19th, the Wachusett had worked 



STRUCK BY A "PAMPERO'' 141 

her way southward as far as Rio de Janeiro and, in 
the hope of meeting a ship laden with provisions, 
Captain Townsend kept on and off the harbor entrance 
so as to intercept vessels passing in or out — still cling- 
ing to the hope that he might yet be able to make the 
run across the Atlantic without touching port on this 
side. Several craft were boarded but, from none of 
them, could the Americans secure provisions; and fi- 
nally, abandoning this plan, Captain Townsend de- 
cided to make a straight run for Montevideo, as the 
supply of provisions in the ship had now been reduced 
to ten days. 

The next two days the Wachusett was favored with 
fair weather and made good progress down the coast 
but, on the 2 2d of June, when off the Island of St. 
Sebastian, it came on to a heavy blow from the south- 
west, or " dead ahead." The ship was put under low 
steam but could make no progress and, at two o'clock 
in the afternoon, the fires were banked and the ship 
placed under sails in order to save coal — there being 
now only one day's coal left; and they were eight 
hundred miles from their port with head wind and 
seas to combat. 

For the next two days the wind continued steady 
from the southwest which, together v/ith heavy swells 



142 UNDER A LEE SHORE 

setting in from the same direction, prevented her from 
making much progress — meantime the scanty supply 
of provisions, and slimmer stock of coal, were rapidly 
approaching the vanishing point. Instead of the 
weather improving, as the days went by, it got appre- 
ciably worse and, on June 25 th, It was stormy all day 
and at sunset there was every indication of a bad 
night. 

That these " indications " were not false is seen by 
reference to Philip's journal when he says, under date 
of June 26th: " Last night was the most miserable 
one I have ever experienced at sea. At eleven o'clock 
at night, a pampero ^ struck us from the southwest 
with all its force. The sea and wind are increasing. 
At half past three o'clock in the morning, I called all 
hands to reduce sail. 

*' With hard work we took in and furled the top- 
sails, and hove her to on the starboard tack under 
fore storm staysails, close reefed main topsails and 
storm mizzen. The foresail and fore topmast stay- 
sail blew into ribbons before we could furl them. 
Ship rolling very heavily, taking in seas fore and aft 
so that we were obliged to batten down all the hatches. 

1 A sudden wind of tremendous force, common in South 
America. 



A MAD RACE FOR PORT 143 

" The ship rolled so heavily that she endangered 
all the boats, filling them with water at every lurch. 
We hove-to and, as the wind and sea seemed to be in- 
creasing, our Captain decided that it would be Im- 
possible to reach (and dangerous to attempt getting 
to) Montevideo before our provisions gave out; we 
having only five days' rations of meat (nothing else) 
and one day's coal on board; and still had over six 
hundred and sixty miles to go — and that against a 
dead-a-head-wind ! " 

Truly, this was an appalling situation for a war 
ship having some two hundred hungry men aboard, to 
be In, off an unfriendly coast ! Very much against his 
inclinations, Captain Townsend was compelled to give 
the order to get up steam, put the Wachusett before 
the wind and make a rush for St. Catherine, Brazil, 
the nearest port; then distant one hundred and sixty- 
five miles. 

By one o'clock in the afternoon, the ship was 
headed on her new course, making the swift rate of 
thirteen knots an hour. Although the wind was blow- 
ing with terrific force (but now In the JVachusetfs 
favor) , the seas very high and the ship was taking In 
great quantities of water, no effort was made to reduce 
sail; for, after so much 111 luck, no one could tell when 



144 UNDER A LEE SHORE 

the wind might not again change and, again, head the 
cruiser off. 

We get some idea of the violence of these seas when 
we are told that " during the day the waves stove in 
the starboard rail for about fifty feet in the gang- 
way." The JVachusett continued in her mad race for 
port until about midnight, when it was thought that 
she was near land and, it being dangerous to run ahead 
any longer (not knowing their exact position) , the en- 
gines were stopped and the ship hove-to on the port 
tack under fore storm staysails, close reefed main top- 
sail and the storm mizzen, to await daylight. 

At daybreak, June 27th, no land could be seen from 
the ship's masthead, so the engines were started again 
and it was not until noon that an observation was 
taken and It was found that she was seventy-five miles 
southeast of St. Catherine. The ship now bore up to 
the north-northwest, under all sail, after which the 
crew was kept busy clearing up the decks and repair- 
ing the damage caused by the storm. 

By sunset the faint headlines of the island of St. 
Catherine were just discernible on the horizon, but 
it was at such a distance and it became so dark by six 
o'clock, that the JVachusett banked her fires and stood 
on and off all night. At daylight she was found to 



STRUGGLING FOR PROVISIONS 145 

be fifteen miles from the northeast point of St. Cath- 
erine and by one o'clock she anchored in the roads. 

Scarcely was the anchor down, when the ship was 
boarded by a Brazilian official who wanted to know 
her name and business in these waters. Chief Engi- 
neer Latch says : " As soon as this official heard the 
name Wachusett, he left very abruptly and, hastening 
down the gangway to his boat, hurriedly put back to 
his ship." 

In a short time he returned and requested that the 
Wachusett, at once, to put to sea and go to the assis- 
tance of a Brazilian transport, which had been 
wrecked, with four hundred soldiers aboard, on the 
coast forty miles to the north by the same storm the 
Americans had just survived. 

Here, indeed, was an opportunity for the naughty 
Wachusett to re-establish herself in the good graces 
of the Brazilians; and, thereby, atone for her misbe- 
havior at Bahia less than a year before. But St. An- 
thony's " feet up" (if their influence did, really, ex- 
tend across the wide Atlantic) or some other form of 
ill-luck still pursued the ship, as she had only three 
tons of coal on board and no provisions whatever — 
and her two hundred men were very hungry. Indeed. 

We can readily imagine that Captain Townsend, 



146 UNDER A LEE SHORE 

coming Into this Brazilian port with considerable 
misgivings as to the manner of his reception, and in a 
condition that placed him absolutely at the mercy of 
the local officials, would have been only too glad to 
have seized this opportunity to make an acceptable 
peace-offering. Under the circumstances, this was a 
sheer impossibility and on understanding the situation, 
the Brazilians very graciously permitted one of the 
Wachusett's boats to proceed up to the city of Our 
Lady of Solitude, which was the capital of the Island, 
and secure provisions. 

A boat Immediately set out to " get something to 
eat." It was now nearly dark and the distance to be 
covered was fourteen miles over a rough, open road- 
stead, but, so pressing was the emergency, that the 
men bent to their oars and after an exhausting pull 
arrived at the city about nine o'clock that night. 

Philip was the officer who had charge of this " for- 
aging party " and, notwithstanding the lateness of the 
hour (9 p. M. was very late In this sleepy place), he 
at once set out to find the American Consul, Mr. Ben- 
jamin Lindsay of Massachusetts — which he suc- 
ceeded in doing after a little trouble. Philip ex- 
plained that it was necessary to get provisions off to 
the Wachusett before morning. The good Consul 



PROVISIONS UNDER GUARD 147 

managed to secure the provisions but, although Philip 
worked all night long, he could not induce the natives 
to carry them down to the ship until the following 
morning. 

Thoroughly discouraged, Philip, at daylight, June 
29th, again sought out the Consul, to get his assist- 
ance in inducing the " lazy, good-for-nothing island- 
ers to work." After a vast amount of energy had 
been expended in " talking it over " and " thinking 
about it," a boat was finally hired, loaded with flour 
and beef, and started for the ship. 

Having seen the supply boat safely off (as he 
thought) , Philip entered his gig and leaving the city 
at ten o'clock in the morning, got back to the Wachu- 
sett at three that afternoon — " about tired out," as 
he laconically expressed it. But, when he got on 
board and learned that nothing had been seen of the 
supply boat, he became thoroughly vexed and sent the 
cutter with two officers to find out where the supply 
boat was and to keep by it until she was alongside of 
the Wachusett. It was not until midnight that the 
provisions reached the famished ship's company — 
and the cooks cheerfully worked all night to meet the 
demands* 



CHAPTER XII. 

AT RIO DE JANEIRO 

It seems that the Wachusett was restored to grace, 
with the Brazilian authorities, through the interven- 
tion of our minister to that country. General J. W. 
Webb, who brought the peculiar case of that ship be- 
fore Dom Pedro II. and secured her admission to 
Rio de Janeiro free from any liability to arrest. This 
was exceedingly fortunate for the Americans, as the 
local officials at St. Catherine were unable to supply 
her with provisions or coal necessary to keep her at sea 
more than three days. 

The city of Our Lady of Solitude did not impress 
Philip favorably. But we must remember that what 
he said of it was not intended " for publication " and, 
coming so soon after being up all night in his vexatious 
efforts to secure provisions for his shipmates, we can 
make allowance for the severity of his language. 
" Although the city seems to be a nice place of about 
fifteen thousand inhabitants," he said, " I never was 

148 



TOO NUMEROUS HOLIDAYS 149 

so disgusted with a place and its people as I am with 
this." 

We must remember that Philip's " never," then, 
came from a very young man who had seen scarcely 
anything of the world. Philip met with a number 
of " nevers " before the end of his three years' cruise. 
He continues: " I will not visit it again, except on 
necessary official duty. The people are the most in- 
dolent, ignorant and lazy set of mortals I have ever 
met. It is impossible to get provisions for a long 
cruise, consequently, we are obliged to go to Rio de 
Janeiro for supplies." 

A Brazilian brig, laden with coal, came into the 
port July ist and the Americans had permission to 
coal from her. " But," said Phihp, " by the laziness 
of the natives, they could not get ready to discharge 
before Monday; hence we are delayed that much 
longer." On the " Monday " mentioned, July 3d, 
the collier was hauled alongside — after many pro- 
testations from her master for fear of chafing, dam- 
ages etc. — and fifty tons of coal were taken out; 
just about enough to carry the Wachusett to Rio de 
Janeiro. 

The next day, July 4th, the TVachusett, after hav- 
ing " dressed ship " in honor of the glorious occasion, 



150 AT RIO DE JANEIRO 

got under way and, after a " very dark, thick and 
stormy passage," arrived at Rio de Janeiro July 7th, 
where, contrary to all expectations, she remained 
seventy-five days before starting on her run for the 
Cape of Good Hope. 

During this long stay Philip was, at first, be- 
wildered — although he finally admitted that he had 
become used to it — by the vast number of legal holi- 
days in Latin nations. At first he expressed some im- 
patience at the interminable number of salutes and 
*' ship dressings " he was called upon to make but, at 
last, he resigned himself to the conditions with the 
philosophy of a stoic. And it might not be amiss to 
add that, perhaps, he submitted with more grace In 
view of the fact that Dom Pedro had let the JVachu- 
sett off with less severity than she had reason to hope 
for. 

Of course, on the Wachusetfs arrival, there were 
the usual salutes of welcome — of which no one (ex- 
cept landlords with cheap window panes) could com- 
plain. Three days afterward, July loth, the Em- 
peror of Brazil left for the seat of war. As the 
Emperor's steamer passed down the harbor, all the 
men-of-war dressed ship, manned the yards and sa- 
luted; the JVachusett, of course, following suit, but, 




CAPTAIN JOHN WOODWARD PHILIP, U. S. N. 



INTERMINABLE SALUTES 151 

with the addition of giving the Emperor three hearty 
cheers. So far, there was no reasonable grounds for 
complaint — even from a Kinderhook " Dutchman " ; 
and the three hearty cheers were especially appropri- 
ate in the JVachiisett's case at this particular moment. 
Three days later, Philip again dressed ship in honor 
of the birthday of some Brazilian princess — and 
there being a lady in the case, our hero, of course, 
gave place. Not more than four days passed when a 
Brazilian officer boarded the Wachusett and Informed 
Philip that the next day was another holiday, in honor 
of the coronation of the present Emperor, so on July 
1 8th, the fVachusett again dressed up. 

On the following day the French mail steamer from 
France came in, having as passengers the Emperor's 
daughter and her husband. As she was heir to the 
throne of Brazil, all the men-of-war dressed ship. 
" The Count and Countess," grumbled Philip, " have 
just returned from their wedding tour in Portugal." 
As if to cool off his impatience over this " salut- 
ing business," Philip went ashore on July 20th, 
dressed in " white duck " and, being overtaken by a 
furious rain storm, got " soaking wet " before he re- 
gained the ship. His dress, at least, was appropriate. 
Before his clothing really had a chance to dry, or 



152 AT RIO DE JANEIRO 

on the morning of the next day, July 21st, the Portu- 
guese Admiral asked Philip to again dress ship in 
honor of the birthday of the Queen of Portugal — 
and he did. Only one day intervened before all the 
men-of-war dressed ship in honor of the birthday of 
" some Brazilian princess. . . . There seem to 
be no end of Brazilian royalty In these parts," petu- 
lantly added Philip after making this entry. 

Five whole days now lapsed before the next 
" dressed ship " is recorded and, on the 29th of July, 
it was in honor of the birthday of the Princess Im- 
perial. 

From July 29th until the 31st, Philip makes no re- 
cord of dressing ship, for he was absent on a little 
jaunt to Petropolis and, so, had a chance to recuper- 
ate. But on his return, July 3 ist — as if to make up 
for lost time — he records : " To-day the ship was 
doubly dressed [he was absent only two days] in 
honor of the coronation of the Empress of Brazil." 

Philip, certainly, was getting the full measure of the 
ceremony for, on the next day, August ist, he records, 
with an emphasis peculiarly his own : " All the ves- 
sels dressed ship again — just because the Emperor's 
new son-in-law left the harbor bound for Rio 
Grande !" 



"ANOTHER PRINCE!" 153 

The climax, however, came, on the following day 
(August 2d) when poor Philip remarked that all the 
men-of-war dressed ship and fired salutes in honor of 
the birthday of another Brazilian princess. " Is there 
any end to Brazilian royalty? " he exclaimed. 

For the whole of twelve days — a part of which 
time Philip was absent on a " land cruise," so we 
really do not know if any salutes were fired in that 
time — our hero was relieved from " dressing ship," 
But, on August 14th, the Brazilian authorities in- 
formed the JVachusett that, by new regulations, she 
was obliged to salute and, consequently " we com- 
menced and fired a salute of twenty-one guns with the 
Brazilian ensign at the fore." Was this a penance 
for the Wachusett's bad behavior at Bahia? 

At eight o'clock on the morning of the following 
day, August 15th, all the men-of-war dressed ship and 
fired national salutes of twenty-one guns in honor of 
the French Emperor's birthday — and on shore it 
was a hoHday in honor of some saint. " It was one 
of the greatest days in Brazil," said Philip. " I went 
on shore in the evening and went to the Cathedral 
where a fine band was playing lively and fancy tunes 
inside, the people on their knees counting their beads 
before some image, and fireworks outside the church." 



154 AT RIO DE JANEIRO 

Aside from the saluting of several American war 
ships, which arrived at Rio de Janeiro in the next three 
weeks — which ceremony Philip seemed to have re- 
garded as rational — there is no further record of 
" dressing ship " until September 4th when all the 
ships in the harbor decorated in honor of the anni- 
versary of the " wedding " of the Emperor of the 
Brazils. On September 6th the JVachiisett dressed 
in honor of the birth of some Portuguese prince and 
" to-day [September 7th] we dressed in honor of an- 
other prince." 

As if driven frantic by these interminable cere- 
monials, Philip notes, under date of the following 
day, September 8th: " Dressed ship again to-day In 
honor of another Portuguese prince." It was for- 
tunate for Philip's mental equilibrium that the Wachu- 
sett, a few Ways after this, left Rio de Janeiro. 

While at this place, Philip made a trip to Petro- 
polis — of which mention has already been made — 
which he describes in his peculiarly interesting style. 
Under date of July 29th, he says: "At i P. M. 
Paymaster Sears and I left the ship to spend a few 
days In Petropolis. We went by steamer to Paimha, 
thence by sail to the foot of the Orange Mountains 
and then with a carriage to the city which Is situated 



A "LAND CRUISE" 155 

three thousand feet above the level of the sea. In 
ascending this height you are obliged to make ninety- 
seven zigzags and go over twelve miles of road — 
the most beautiful one in the world. 

" After arriving at the top, it seems as if you might 
throw a stone in the depot below; though you had 
gone twelve miles to reach that point. The scenery 
was the most magnificent that I have ever seen. We 
arrived at Petropolis at six o'clock in the evening and 
dined with our minister, General Webb and family. 

" July 30th. — After getting our breakfast at the 
McDowall House, we started out on a ramble through 
the mountains to the celebrated cascades, distant six 
miles. We had a very pleasant walk along a wind- 
ing path, through the forests of the mountains, and 
finally reached the falls which are formed by small 
mountain streams leaping over a precipice into the 
valley below. I should judge that they are double 
the height of the falls near the ' Mountain House ' at 
home. After returning we strolled all about the city 
of Petropolis and through the Palace grounds of the 
Emperor — which, by the way, cannot compare in 
any respect with our own modest White House." 



CHAPTER XIII. 

EASTWARD, HO ! 

At four o'clock on the afternoon of September 
20th, the Wachusett got under way and stood out of 
the harbor of Rio de Janeiro. Before night came on, 
she was gracefully bowing and rolling to the long 
ocean swells — much to the discomfort of " several 
officers " and to a larger number of the crew, whose 
long stay in port had caused them to lose their " sea 
legs." 

On September 29th the monotony of the voyage to 
Cape Town was broken by some of the sailors, catch- 
ing an albatross which measured, from the tip of the 
wings, ten feet. As sailors would be the last to 
wantonly kill or injure a dumb animal, the bird was 
set free — after the ship's name had been put on her 
neck. 

At daybreak, October 20th, Cape of Good Hope 
was sighted and by noon the ship was safely anchored 
in Simon's Bay; having made a "very pleasant and 
quick run of thirty days " from Rio de Janeiro. Si- 

156 



SEEING CAPE TOWN 157 

mon's Bay was the English naval station and winter 
quarters for all vessels stopping at the Cape during 
the winter. There was little shipping in port; the 
only one of interest being the Confederate cruiser 
Tuscaloosa which had been there over two years but 
was now lying a hulk, with no flag or owner. 

On Sunday, October 2 2d, Philip went ashore, and 
attended service In the English church " and," he 
says, " I must acknowledge that It Is the first Sabbath, 
that has at all resembled our Sabbaths at home, that 
we have had since leaving the United States." Be- 
fore returning to his ship, Philip took a walk over the 
town, which was accomplished In half an hour, as 
there was only one street in the place and that faced 
the bay. The town made a fine appearance from the 
harbor. Behind It were high, rocky and barren hills 
which made an imposing background. 

That Philip took a personal interest in everything 
about his ship, and especially in the proficiency of her 
gun crews, has already appeared In these pages. We 
can imagine, then, the eagerness with which he noted 
the target practice, with broadside guns, of the Eng- 
lish troopship Valorous, which took place five days 
after the JVachusetfs arrival In Simon's Bay. When 
the exercise was over Philip records : " On the whole 



158 EASTWARD HO! 

she made a very poor showing, considering that she 
has been out three and a half years, so that her crew 
ought to be well drilled In everything." 

On the 27th of October, the Wachusett left 
Simon's Bay and, by four o'clock In the afternoon, 
anchored In Table Bay, off the city of Cape Town. 
No sooner was the anchor down than the ship was 
surrounded by bumboats and washwomen with " rec- 
ommendations," seeking permission to come on 
board. 

Two days later Philip went ashore for a ram^ble 
about the town. After visiting all the places of In- 
terest he rode out on the famous drive around the 
" Lion," which was a mountain between Table 
Mountain and the sea. He said : " I was very 
much pleased with the city. It being well laid out and 
very neat and clean — but thoroughly English In 
everything." On the next day he sent forty of the 
American crew ashore on liberty, " just to let this 
English town be full of Yankees once more." 

After spending a few days In cleaning up his ship, 
Philip, like the good housekeeper he was, felt that 
he was entitled to a little recreation and, early on the 
morning of November 6th, he took the cars for Well- 
ington, distant sixty miles, and arrived there at eleven 



A MASONIC DINNER 159 

o'clock in the morning — spending the remainder of 
the day in " examining " the place. 

At daylight the next morning, he took a cart and 
crossed the Worcester Mountains and arrived at 
Fanny's or Darling Bridge, distant from Wellington 
about twenty-two miles. " It was raining all the 
time," Philip said, " and, consequently, we were much 
disgusted and, when we arrived at Fanny's, we con- 
cluded to return to the ship. In crossing Bain's 
Kpoof, we would have seen some of the most mag- 
nificent scenery in the world but, on account of the fog 
and clouds, we could not see a quarter of an inch 
ahead of us," 

Philip was an enthusiastic Mason, having joined 
the order when a young man, and at the time of his 
death he had attained the " thirty-second degree." 
In every port at which he stopped, he sought out the 
lodges of the fraternity and made himself known. 
One of the first visits he made was at Rio de Janeiro 
but, " having no certificate, I could not get in without 
some trouble." 

That Philip was active in Inducing his shipmates 
to belong to the order is seen In the fact that, while 
at Cape Town, a number of the PFachusetfs and 
Hartford's officers joined the brotherhood. Under 



i6o EASTWARD HO! 

date of November loth he writes: "Went ashore 
in the evening to attend a meeting of the Masonic 
lodge ' De Goode Hoop.' Two of our officers were 
initiated in the mysteries of the order." 

He attended the same lodge on the i8th and saw 
nine of the Hartford^s officers initiated and, on the 
evening of the 2 2d, he attended a Masonic dinner 
given to the Masons in the Hartford and Wachu- 
sett — twenty-two in all. " Of course there were the 
usual after dinner speeches, complimentary and na- 
tional toasts. On the whole it was quite a jolly affair 
and a great compliment to us. I shall always re- 
member Cape Town and our pleasant stay there." 

On the morning of November 15 th, the Hartford, 
bearing the broad pennant of Rear-Admiral Bell, ar- 
rived in Table Bay and with her, the tide of social 
festivities was In full swing. On this day Philip at- 
tended the Cape Agricultural Fair and, while he 
thought it was creditable for an English colony, he 
insisted that " it could not compare with those we 
have at home." 

The officers of the Hartford and JVachusett were 
handsomely entertained by the English at Cape 
Town and, on the eve of their sailing, Philip noted 
that: "We have met more friends and have been 



A STRANGE NIGHT i6i 

better treated, since being in Cape Town, than could 
ever have been expected." In return for these at- 
tentions the Americans gave a ball aboard the Wa- 
chusett to their friends on shore. " The ship," said 
Philip, " was decorated with English and American 
colors, besides signal flags, and was nicely illumi- 
nated." Three days after the ball, all the officers 
of the Hartford and Wachusett, who could be spared 
attended a picnic out in the country given by Captain 
Holmes of Massachusetts. 

At four o'clock on the morning of November 23d, 
fires were started under both boilers of the Wachusett 
and at six o'clock she steamed out of Table Bay, with 
the Hartford, and both ships started on their long 
voyage for the East Indies. After getting clear of 
the land they " hauled their fires " and proceeded un- 
der sail alone ; the flagship, being very fast, gradually 
left the Wachusett behind and by three o'clock in the 
afternoon disappeared, leaving the Wachusett to 
make the best of her way to Batavia alone. 

On the third day out Philip noticed that the water 
was much discolored and, thinking that they might 
be passing over a shoal, he hove-to and cast the deep- 
sea lead; but failed to find bottom even with seven 
hundred and twenty feet of line. In half an hour 



i62 EASTWARD HO! 

the ship was again in deep blue water, so that she had, 
apparently, passed over the bank — if bank it was. 
" The cause of this discoloration," said Philip, " is 
unknown, unless it might have been whale feed at 
some distance below the surface." 

The night of November 30th was one of the 
strangest Philip ever experienced. The barometer 
continued to fall until it reached 29.50, the lowest 
point on this cruise. There was Httle or no wind, 
until four o'clock In the morning, December ist, while 
the atmosphere was exceedingly rare (although it was 
raining furiously) and everything could be heard dis- 
tinctly. " In fact," said Philip, " it seemed like one 
vast sounding board. It can only be accounted for 
by supposing the ship to be in the center of a cyclone 
and was being carried along with it." 

Christmas was spent rather dismally as it was rain- 
ing hard and in the afternoon it came on to a steady 
gale. The officers and men did the best they could 
to pass the day agreeably but it proved to be hard 
work. It was the tenth consecutive Christmas Philip 
had spent away from home. 

On New Year's Day, the weather being calm and 
delightfully warm, Philip got Into the dingey with 
Pegram and Paymaster Sears and, after pulling a 



A "FLOATING ISLAND" 163 

short distance from the ship, went in swimming — in 
the middle of the Indian Ocean. 

At daylight, January 9th, the Wachusett reached 
the Straits of Sunda when a native boat, laden with 
fruit, chickens etc., came alongside and, in a short 
time, had " sold completely out." "After a passage 
of forty-nine days at sea," said Philip, " tropical fruit 
becomes a great luxury and one can imagine how we 
enjoyed the contents of this bumboat after this voy- 
age on almost low diet." 

The Wachusett arrived at Batavia January loth 
and Philip was quick to note the queer ways of people 
who had the bad taste to live on the other side of the 
globe from Kinderhook. " The natives here, also," 
he said, " are in search of the everlasting dollar." 
The city was about six miles back from the bay and 
was approached by boats through a canal, " and then 
you take carriages and drive — but never walk. 
. . . Washington is called the city of magnifi- 
cent distances, but it cannot begin to compare with 
Batavia. Here a pair of shoes can easily be dis- 
pensed with but it would be impossible to get along 
without a horse." 

Philip found Batavia to be beautifully laid out, in 
the old Dutch style, kept very clean, with some mag- 



1 64 EASTWARD HO! 

nificent Chinese and native temples. But he did not 
approve of their manner of observing the Sabbath for, 
though all the European places of business were 
closed, " none of the people attended Divine service." 
The Chinese and natives observed the day only by 
dressing a little better and kept their shops open. 

Having replenished her stock of provisions and 
coal, the ship sailed from Batavia January 17th, and 
steamed across the Java Sea which, at this time, hap- 
pened to be as smooth as a " mill pond." At eight 
o'clock on the following night she anchored off BIllI- 
ton Island, to await daylight before attempting the 
dangerous navigation of the straits. Favored with 
fine weather, she cleared Gasper Straits by two o'clock 
on the next day. 

While steaming along the coast of Borneo, Feb- 
ruary ist, " in a perfectly smooth sea," Philip discov- 
ered an object on the horizon which appeared to be 
a wreck. Running down to it it was found to be a 
detached portion of a " floating island " which must 
have drifted out of some near-by river. 

While at Batavia, Captain Townsend heard that 
an American, named Moses, had settled In Ambong, 
Borneo, and, having become wealthy and influential, 
was recognized by the Sultan of Borneo as the "Rajah 



THE RAJAH OF AMBONG 165 

of Ambong." Thinking that " Moses " might be of 
use to the United States, Townsend ran into the har- 
bor of Ambong, February 5th. It was a beautiful 
roadstead, with wild vegetation and thick forests com- 
ing down to the water's edge. But there was not the 
slightest indication of human life. 

After waiting some time, a canoe timidly put off 
from the shore and, on coming alongside, the natives 
were induced to come on board. Captain Townsend 
had with him a little dictionary, prepared by the mis- 
sionaries in the East Indies, and endeavored to make 
" ye men of " — Ambong understand the object of 
his visit. 

Mr. Pegram is responsible for the picture of the 
genial Captain, working himself into a perspiration 
in his vain efforts to quote some passage from this 
dictionary the natives could understand. He met 
with no success other than eliciting unctuous grunts, 
lugubrious rolling of the eyes and the ponderous wab- 
blings and contortions of the glistening bodies as the 
poor fellows honestly labored to get some inkling of 
intelligence from the strange words that came from 
that dictionary. 

Ambong proved to be a " city of fifty bamboo 
huts," which the Americans, after hard scratching in 



i66 EASTWARD HO! 

the jungle, unearthed; the inhabitants being In a very 
primitive condition. Evidently, they had never heard 
of " Rajah Moses," so after firing a couple of her 
heavy guns (for moral effect) the Wachusett, on the 
following morning, got under way for Manila, her 
next port. 

On the night of February nth, while steaming 
past the island of Mindora, the Americans saw two 
volcanoes, on the Island of Luzon, In full eruption, 
distant about one hundred and eighty miles. Even 
at that great distance, they could distinctly see the 
lava running down the mountain side and the craters. 
On the following night they saw four more volcanoes 
in full operation, " the six presenting a grand appear- 
ance." 

At four o'clock on the afternoon of February 12th, 
the Wachusett passed the Island of Corregidor and 
steamed up the bay to the anchorage off Manila where 
Philip proudly notes " we found a few vessels in the 
harbor, three of the finest ones being Yankee mer- 
chantmen." 

With his usual thoroughness, Philip Inspected the 
city and came to the conclusion that " It Is fast going 
to the dogs. It Is admirably fitted by nature for 
trade and, If It were not for her people and govern- 



PIRATE JUNKS 167 

ment, it would shortly be one of the first cities in the 
East." That Philip's prediction is becoming true, is 
shown in the rapidly increasing trade of this port un- 
der American rule. 

Philip managed, however, to get some amusement 
out of the place for, under date of February 19th, 
he says: " I again visited the city. We had an 
Indian driver and I have never had such a hard time 
to * get through a place ' as we had in making this 
Indian understand what we wanted. But, on the 
whole, it caused a great deal of amusement for us 
and we enjoyed it — much to the confusion of the 
poor driver." 

On another occasion Philip, with some other offi- 
cers, visited the place in civilian clothes, and was put 
out from one of the public buildings at the point of a 
bayonet — " we not choosing to take an order from 
a stupid negro." In conclusion he says: " I hope 
that the ship may never be ordered here again — at 
least, until our supply of cigars and cheroots gives 
out; and, then, only for a very short time." 

The Wachiisett sailed from Manila, February 
27th, and arrived at Hong Kong, March 5th; just 
a year, to a day, from the date of her sailing from 
Boston. In passing through the straits the Wachu- 



1 68 EASTWARD HO! 

sett met a large number of Chinese junks, one of 
them carrying the remarkably heavy armament of six 
long 32-pounders. They, undoubtedly, were pirates; 
awaiting a favorable opportunity to attack unarmed 
merchantmen or fishing craft. Shortly afterward, 
the Wachusett had an experience with one of these 
junks (as will be shown in another chapter) which 
entirely confirmed the belief of their being piratical. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

CAPTURING A BAND OF OUTLAWS 

On the fVachusett's arrival in Hong Kong, she 
found a large mail awaiting her; the first that had 
reached the ship since her departure from the United 
States. Consequently, the officers and men spent 
most of the day on board, reading and re-reading the 
" good and bad news " from home. 

As a result of tidings from his family, Mr. Pegram 
resigned from the service. " By this," said Philip, 
" the navy loses a fine and excellent officer and the 
officers of this ship a good messmate and an agreeable 
companion and gentleman." Mr. Pegram is now 
(1904) living In Providence, R. I. 

From Hong Kong the Wachusett went to Macao, 
to replenish from the United States storeship Relief. 
While this work was going on, Philip allowed fifty 
of the crew to go ashore on liberty; but the old Por- 
tuguese Governor, being afraid that they would 
" take the place," requested that they be not permitted 

169 



lyo CAPTURING A BAND OF OUTLAWS 

to stay over night. The request came too late and 
" our boys have charge of Macao for this evening." 

On April 3d the Wachusett steamed up the river 
to Canton, where a number of her officers formed a 
party and went sightseeing on a large scale which 
Philip amusingly describes as follows: " It was quite 
interesting, as we rode along in our sedan chairs, 
single file, through the different streets, to see the 
Chinamen stop and make remarks about ' foreign 
devils,' etc. And then the small boys would run to 
get out of the ' foreign devils' ' way and not be 
harmed. Most of the streets were very narrow, not 
over four feet wide and very dirty; especially in the 
market districts. We carefully examined the cat, 
dog and rat markets and saw Chinamen eating of 
each; but, although we generally try everything 
wherever we go, we have not yet been long enough 
in China to ' fall in ' with John's favorite dish." 

Returning to Macao, news was received of a 
deadly assault on a party of Americans in New 
Chwang, North China, by a band of outlaws called 
" swordracks," and the Wachusett was dispatched 
posthaste to the scene of trouble. Leaving Hong 
Kong April 1 8th, she steamed rapidly up the coast 
in the teeth of a strong head wind. 



A PERILOUS RESCUE 171 

On the second day out, Philip experienced one of 
those " incidents " of sea life which put the nerves of 
sailors to the severest test. At eight o'clock on the 
morning of April 19th, while he was pacing the deck, 
the cry " Man overboard! " startled the ship's com- 
pany. Notwithstanding the heavy gale and seas that 
were on at the time, the engines were stopped; and, 
as the man drifted past the ship, a wooden grating 
was thrown overboard to him. Then the whale boat, 
at great risk of life, was lowered but, before she 
reached the man, he disappeared — never to rise 
again. Philip recalled the boat but, in trying to hoist 
her up, she got adrift so that the cutter with thirteen 
men and an officer were sent after her. 

The cutter had proceeded only a short distance 
when it was capsized, leaving the crew struggling in 
the water. The second cutter was then manned and 
sent to the rescue; and, after great risk, succeeded in 
saving the men. The Wachusett was rolling fright- 
fully all the time, and, in endeavoring to hoist the 
cutters up, they were both stove in so that it was de- 
cided to abandon further efforts to save the whale 
boat. The man lost was one of the best seamen in 
the ship, being the captain of the forecastle. 

On the night of April 21st the Wachusett "ran 



172 CAPTURING A BAND OF OUTLAWS 

over " a Chinese junk. Again the engines were 
stopped and a boat put out with proffers of assistance; 
but the Chinamen refused aid and, as there were other 
junks near by, the Americans resumed their course. 
Afterward it was believed that the junk was a pirate 
and, mistaking the cruiser for a merchantman, had 
crept up on her in the dark with the intention of 
boarding. 

It was on the morning of May 4th that the fVa- 
chusett anchored off the foreign concession in New 
Chwang. All the Europeans were found making 
preparation for an expected attack by the swordracks. 
All the white men were drilling with firearms, under 
the guidance of the British Consul, Mr. Meadows. 

That Captain Townsend was an officer of decision ' 
and determination is shown in the style in which he 
handled this affair. On the afternoon of May 7th 
he landed fifty armed sailors and, having himself, 
Philip and the American Consul (Mr. Knight) 
mounted on horseback, marched to the office of the 
chief mandarin, Cheung, and demanded satisfaction. 
" This town," said Philip, " had never before seen 
such a turnout in its quiet streets, consequently, we 
collected an immense crowd which followed us all the 
time we were on shore." 



ASSAULT BY " SfVORDRACKS " 173 

Foxy old Cheung received the Americans in great 
state and was most lavish in promises — promises in- 
volving the " honor of his ancestors many genera- 
tions back " — that the offenders would speedily be 
brought to justice. Captain Townsend, however, was 
sufficiently versed in Chinese diplomacy not to place 
much rehance on "promises"; and rather bluntly 
gave Cheung to understand that he would Improve 
the interim by landing his sailors and giving them 
frequent drills in infantry tactics. 

Before leaving the official residence, Captain Town- 
send intimated that Cheung had better visit the Wa- 
chusett, and see for himself some of " those big pow- 
der guns " which he seemed so incredulous about. On 
the afternoon of May 13th the old fellow, accompa- 
nied by fifteen native officials, visited the ship in great 
state and had everything about her fighting capacity 
thoroughly impressed on his mind. By way of giv- 
ing emphasis to this impression, two shells were fired 
from the lOO-pounder rifle " which surprised him 
very much as he had never seen so large a gun and 
one that could fire so far." 

On the following day Philip had another fatal boat 
experience. While it was blowing a gale of wind, 
with a heavy spring tide in the river, the dingey 



174 CAPTURING A BAND OF OUTLAWS 

(which was towing at the stern of the ship) upset and 
the keeper was drowned. The cutter, with ten men, 
was immediately sent out to recover the boat but they 
were carried' six miles away, before they reached it. 

As the men in the cutter were unarmed, and the 
natives had given many indications of hostility, Philip 
became alarmed for their safety and ordered the sec- 
ond cutter, with sixteen armed men, to the relief. It 
was not until the tide had turned that the boats were 
able to get back to the Wachusett. Philip said : " I 
have never before experienced such rough work on a 
river — twenty-five miles from the sea !" 

Early in June the swordracks posted a placard in 
the town in which they gave notice that, if any of 
their number was punished, in accordance with Cap- 
tain Townsend's demands, they would murder all the 
foreigners in the coming winter. 

This was no idle threat, as the river was closed by 
ice during that season, so that it would be impossible 
for a war ship to come to the rescue. " I would not 
be surprised if they attempted to carry out their 
threat," said Philip, " because they are very bitter and 
there are only sixty foreigners here." 

Hon, the leader of the swordracks, also became 
emboldened by the evident lack of effort the manda- 



PREPARING TO ATTACK 175 

rins were making to punish him, or his associates, 
and he sent word to the officers of the JVachusett that 
he did not intend to run away and that he would not 
surrender if the Americans came to take him. In 
short, he invited them to come and try, " and," said 
Philip, " we intend to go." 

Philip now began his preparations in earnest for 
the capture of the outlaws. The sailors were fre- 
quently landed, with howitzers, and exercised. On 
June 17th Philip, dressed in civilian clothes, with the 
American Consul, went down to Hon's headquarters 
so as to get the " land bearings." They met many 
of the gang who looked sharply at the Americans but 
did not molest them. 

Three days later, Philip landed a large force of 
sailors and, with our Consul, went to Cheung's resi- 
dence where he met all the officials of the place 
besides the special commissioner sent there by the Tar- 
tar General. Eight of the swordracks had been ar- 
rested and the Americans had come to identify them. 
The criminals were brought in heavily chained. After 
bowing and kissing the ground, they were allowed 
to rise partially, when each was recognized by Mr. 
Knight, and his cooly, as being the party that had 
committed the deadly assault on him. They were 



176 CAPTURING A BAND OF OUTLAWS 

then replaced in jail and the Americans returned to 
their ship to await the trial. 

In marching back the streets and a number of the 
housetops were crowded with Chinamen eager to see 
the ' foreign white deyils.' " Of course," said Philip, 
"we were prepared with loaded rifles and sword bayo- 
nets, in case of any unusual demonstration hostile to 
us. The whole proceeding, after reaching the magis- 
trate's office, was novel and amusing to me." 

After a day or more of delay, in which the officials 
resorted to their time-honored tactics of postpone- 
ment. Captain Townsend gave them a definite notice 
that if the remaining swordracks (who had become 
more and more defiant as the proceedings went on) 
were not arrested in four days, he would land a force 
from the Wachusett and seize them. 

As this threat did not have the desired effect, a 
force of one hundred men was landed at midnight, 
June 25th, under the immediate command of Philip. 
After marching a long distance, piloted by the Con- 
sul, they reached Hon's house, and immediately 
posted sentries around and on top of it, and then de- 
manded admittance. Not receiving it in the usual 
manner, he ordered the doors broken open, search 
made and the seizure of all the male occupants. 



A MIDNIGHT RAID 177 

After going through five or six houses in this man- 
ner, twenty-three Chinamen were arrested and a large 
quantity of Chinese firearms of all assortments was 
secured. As Hon's premises had now been thor- 
oughly overhauled, Philip concluded to return to the 
ship and see what Chinamen had been caught. The 
landing party got back about eight o'clock in the 
morning and, to the gratification of all, found that 
they had secured the principal swordracks in the place ; 
including the notorious Hon and his two sons. 

" The authorities," said Philip, " had given us to 
understand that the swordracks, some days before, 
had fled into the country. This was intended to dis- 
courage us from making our projected invasion. I'he 
truth was, that the mandarins dared not arrest any 
of the leaders — not being able to keep them — and, 
consequently, they wished to be * out of it.' But now 
the gang is safe in double irons aboard the Wachusett. 
They would have fought and offered resistance, had 
they not been taken completely by surprise a little 
after midnight; as they were well prepared for a good 
defense." 

The landing party had not been aboard four hours 
when a hundred armed men were again landed from 
the ship and, taking the howitzer, marched down to 



178 CAPTURING A BAND OF OUTLAWS 

the magistrate's office to be present at the trial of the 
eight prisoners whom the mandarins had previously 
arrested. After arriving and posting sentries around 
the yard the American officers went into the court 
room and there witnessed a rather singular trial — 
peculiarly Chinese. 

Around the table were seated five mandarins of 
different ranks, our Consul, Captain Townsend, two 
Interpreters and our officers. After a few prelimi- 
naries Mr. Knight's cooly was sent in and was caused 
to kneel before the court while being interrogated. 
Then, one of the prisoners was brought in and ques- 
tioned in the same style. No witnesses were present, 
but questions were put to the criminal himself. If 
he did not tell the truth It was extorted from him by 
means of the most cruel tortures imaginable. 

Philip notes: " We witnessed two or three differ- 
ent tortures to make the prisoner say (or confess) 
that he was guilty — as their laws will not allow 
them to punish a man until he confesses that he Is 
guilty." 

For several days after this, Philip attended the 
court (each time with an armed party of sailors) to 
represent American interests; the swordracks aboard 
the Wachusett, meantime, seeming to be perfectly 



A CHINESE TRIAL 179 

contented with their lot and really looked better and 
cleaner after their short stay with the "Barba- 
rians " — as they were pleased to call all foreigners. 

The court proceedings, on June 27th, were un- 
usually interesting for they examined two leaders, the 
Chung brothers, and took nearly the whole day in 
trying by different tortures, to make the fellows con- 
fess to their guilt. 

" One proceeding," said Philip, " rather interested 
me — although it was barbarous. The leading man- 
darin had asked one of these brothers several ques- 
tions, which he would not answer to the satisfaction 
of the court. So the mandarin wrote out the evi- 
dence as he thought the criminal ought to say and 
then told him to acknowledge it as being correct. On 
refusing to comply with the court's request, they tor- 
tured the poor fellow until he fainted in the court 
room and they were obliged to remove him." 

On the following day the tortures were renewed 
and, toward evening, word was sent to the Wachusett 
that the " men had voluntarily (by tortures) con- 
fessed to be leaders in the deadly assault on our Con- 
sul." As neither of these men could sign his name, 
the court had recourse to an ingenious device, namely, 
they would take an Impression of the man's forefinger 



i8o CAPTURING A BAND OF OUTLAWS 

in wax, near the place where they wished his signa- 
ture. Of course the wax was a little hot but then, 
" he had no business to be a criminal and be unable 
to write his name." 

There now remained the prisoners aboard the Wa- 
chusett to be disposed of; and it seemed that this part 
of the proceedings gave the chief mandarin great 
anxiety. At four o'clock on the afternoon of June 
30th, Cheung and his suite visited the ship. He said 
that when the Emperor at Peking heard of it, he 
(Cheung) and all the mandarins here, will lose their 
positions and perhaps be degraded and ruined for 
life. *' The people on shore," records Philip glee- 
fully, " cannot understand how it was possible for us 
to arrest those persons with apparently so little trou- 
ble in the ' dead of night.' The moral effect has been 
wonderful already on the remaining swordracks about 
the place." 

On the following afternoon the four other man- 
darins who tried the first batch of prisoners, visited 
the Wachusett in regard to Hon and his mates and, 
as they behaved so well in connection with the trial, 
Captain Townsend gave them a salute of five guns. 
They, like old Cheung, were much worried in regard 
to the prisoners in the ship, and, apparently, were will- 



RELEASING PRISONERS i8i 

ing to do anything (in promises) "if our Captain 
will not take them up to Peking " — as he had threat- 
ened to do. 

Early on the morning of July 4th, all the manda- 
rins visited the ship, accompanied by a large military 
force and, after some talk, all of the prisoners (with 
the exception of Hon) were turned over to them. 
They were carried off, heavily ironed and chained — 
no doubt to be released as soon as the Wachusett 
sailed, although satisfactory guarantees were given 
that they would be fairly tried and punished. 

Two days later, after several interviews between 
Captain Townsend and the mandarins, Hon, also, 
was turned over to them; eight high officials having 
given sufficient guarantees to our Consul looking to 
the protection of foreigners at this place in the fu- 
ture. 



CHAPTER XV. 

BUSY ON WAR-LIKE ERRANDS 

Having finished up the " swordrack business " in 
true ship-shape order, the Wachusett left New 
Chwang on the morning of July 7th and, before 
night, anchored off the city of Teng-Chang-Fu where 
there had been some difficulty between American resi- 
dents and the natives. On July 13th, a boat was 
sent ashore and three missionaries were brought off 
so that Captain Townsend might know the exact de- 
tails of the disturbance. 

The next morning one hundred armed men were 
landed and marched to the residence of the chief 
magistrate. Teng-Chang-Fu was an old, walled 
city, with several massive gates. " Everything looked 
quite comfortable and very clean — for Chinese," re- 
marked Philip. As the Americans passed through 
one of the gates, the officials hung out the heads of 
three Chinamen, in cages; to "overawe" the in- 
vaders. 

182 



CHASING RUNAWAY MANDARINS 183 

As the JVachusett was the second man-of-war to 
visit the place, and the first to land armed men, great 
excitement was occasioned. Captain Townsend had 
been cautioned, in advance, against taking such radi- 
cal measures and so was prepared for any hostile 
demonstration. The Americans proceeded to the 
chief magistrate's office and stacked arms in the inner 
court, while a conference was being held between the 
oflicials and the missionaries. After demanding the 
arrest of certain natives, who were known to have in- 
stigated the riots. Captain Townsend returned to his 
ship. 

As the prisoners were not produced in the stipu- 
lated time, the Americans, at noon on the 15th, again 
landed. All the day before they had received no 
official communication and were suspicious that " all 
was not well " in the official atmosphere of Teng- 
Chang-Fu. In this conjecture they were right for, 
on the night before, all the mandarins had fled to 
Chefoo; leaving the Wachusett in the peculiar posi- 
tion of dealing with a city without a responsible offi- 
cial in it. Possibly, these mandarins had heard of 
the Wachusett' s summary doings at New Chwang. 

But Captain Townsend was not to be balked by 
such celestial trickery. He promptly weighed anchor 



1 84 BUSY ON WAR-LIKE ERRANDS 

and hastened to Chefoo, so as to head off the fugitive 
mandarins there. The ship arrived at sunset and 
notice was at once sent to the chief official (who held 
superior rank to him of Teng-Chang-Fu) of the con- 
duct of his subordinates in the neighboring city. 

Just how the business of the runaway mandarins 
came out, Philip does not record but, it is believed, 
that they either dodged the JVachusett by returning 
to their homes or were hiding in a lodging house in 
Chefoo until the " very unceremonious foreign-devil 
ship " went away. At all events, it was put down on 
the ship's records as " unfinished business," and Philip 
pugnaciously added: "We are going to Shanghai 
for coal and provisions and will then return to this 
port — and settle that missionary affair." 

Arriving at Shanghai, however, the Wachusett 
found an important errand awaiting her up the 
Yangtse river at Hankow, where there had been some 
further trouble with the natives. Philip now experi- 
enced heat that, literally, was " frightful"; the ther- 
mometer registering as high as io8 degrees in the 
shade, and so remained for days at a time. 

While yet some distance from Hankow, Captain 
Townsend, on August 15th, died, very suddenly, from 
heat apoplexy; thus leaving Philip in supreme com- 



A TERRIFIC TYPHOON 185 

mand. As Mate T. J. Kelly had died from the same 
cause only two days before, and " everybody on board 
was getting sick from the excessive heat," Philip de- 
cided to return at once to Shanghai and then sail for 
Japan to recuperate the crew. 

Accordingly, the ship anchored off Shanghai that 
same evening, August 15 th, and on the following 
night Captain Townsend's funeral took place (it be- 
ing too hot during the day) with all military and civic 
honors. The JVachusett arrived at Yokohama, 
August 23d, and at ten o'clock on the morning of the 
31st, the entire American fleet steamed to Tokio 
(Yeddo), where the American minister and his fam- 
ily were landed and escorted to the legation. 

After thoroughly inspecting Tokio and Yokohama, 
and pronouncing Japan to be a " lovely country," 
Philip received orders to return to China and, about 
the same time. Commander Robert Wilson Shufeldt 
came aboard as successor to Captain Townsend. The 
JVachusett left Tokio September 13th, bound for Na- 
gasaki. 

Scarcely had the ship cleared the Bay of Yeddo, 
when she ran into the jaws of a typical Japanese ty- 
phoon. She staggered against the tempest two days 
when, gaining a point about eighty miles from the 



i86 BUSY ON WAR-LIKE ERRANDS 

entrance to the Inland Sea, she put into a land-locked 
harbor and remained there three days. 

Even in this safe refuge, she was nearly wrecked 
for, under date of September i6th, Philip records: 
" Last night was the worst I ever experienced aboard 
a ship. At dark the wind blew a perfect hurricane. 
Although we were almost surrounded by high moun- 
tains, we were obliged to let go all anchors and to 
use the engines, steaming half speed, to keep from 
going ashore. At times it blew so hard that it was 
next to impossible to walk on the deck against it. 
Several of our sails blew away, although they had 
extra lashings." 

About one o'clock that morning, when the typhoon 
was at its worst, a strange electrical phenomena oc- 
curred. The sky, to the northeast, looked like an 
immense flame so that even small objects, all round 
the harbor, could be distinctly seen. 

Getting under way again, September 17th, the 
Wachusett passed through the superb scenery of the 
Inland Sea. At that time, southern clans were in 
rebellion against the Government and were observed 
" fighting fiercely " along the shores. A number of 
cities and towns could be seen burning; while the 
smouldering ruins of many others were passed. 



LOOKING AFTER PIRATES 187 

At Shimonosekl Straits the fVachusett passed the 
Imperial fleet, and was courteously saluted. Only a 
few days before this, an English gunboat had been 
fired on by the rebels; and anticipating something of 
the same experience, the Wachusett was cleared for 
action. But, instead of firing on her the rebels sa- 
luted in European fashion. Philip remarked that he 
was surprised to see about twelve " of our Dahlgren 
gun howitzers " among the Japanese. 

After clearing the Inland Sea, the Wachusett 
touched at Nagasaki and then sailed for Hong Kong, 
where she arrived September 20th. It was here 
learned that a number of vessels had been wrecked, 
and a vast amount of damage had been occasioned, by 
the typhoon the JVachusett had encountered only the 
week before. 

It seems singular that piracy — the most revolting 
kind ever depicted by the pen of fiction — should 
have flourished before one of England's prosperous 
colonies at this late day, 1867. Yet, such seems to 
have been the case, for the Wachusett found a num- 
ber of American merchantmen waiting at Hong Kong 
to be escorted well outside of the harbor. 

Only the Saturday before her return from Japan, 
a merchant vessel was attacked by pirates, just outside 



1 88 BUSY ON WAR-LIKE ERRJNDS 

the port, and all on board were most brutally mur- 
dered. On November 30th the American trader 
Powhatan, while in the harbor itself, was attacked by 
the miscreants, who were driven off, only, after a 
number of them had been killed. " Why all these 
pirates are not hung," said Philip, " I cannot under- 
stand, for they are becoming bolder and worse every 
day." 

Two weeks after the Wachusett's arrival at Hong 
Kong, the American merchant ship Parsee sailed for 
Yokohama under the protection of the storeship Sup- 
ply — the latter, of course, being armed. The pirates 
had been waiting a long time for this ship — having 
been kept informed of everything going on in the 
harbor by confederates — and were much disap- 
pointed at " losing " her, as she had a valuable cargo 
of opium. 

At daylight, November 3d, the fVachusett got un- 
der way to inquire a little into this " piratical busi- 
ness." By two o'clock in the afternoon she had 
anchored off a little town up the coast and sent a boat 
ashore to communicate with the chief mandarin in 
regard to an act of piracy committed there a few days 
before. Late in the day " the old fellow " came on 
board and two Chinamen (on whom the outrage had 



A CHINESE INTERVIEW 189 

been perpetrated and who had come in the IVachu- 
sett) were turned over to him; as the mandarin prom- 
ised that justice would be done. " I have no doubt," 
Phihp grimly remarked, " that the old fellow will 
take their heads off for complaining to foreign 
devils — instead of to him direct." 

Proceeding along the coast, the ship anchored off 
the city of Tongseng, where Philip went ashore with 
an armed boat's crew to call on the leading official In 
regard to some acts of piracy recently perpetrated in 
that vicinity. Arriving at the official residence, Philip 
sent in Commander Shufeldt's Chinese card — an im- 
posing document which gave the rank, pedigree and 
history of the person named; according to native cus- 
tom — with a request for an interview. 

The mandarin sent back word that he would not 
receive the American " as he, never before, had had 
the pleasure of meeting a foreigner face to face." 
Philip replied that he was " peaceably inclined " and 
wished to say only a few words on business. After 
a long delay, word came back that the official had 
" gone into the country " and would not be back until 
four days. 

" I then sent word to him that that was all ' hum- 
bug ' and that I desired to see him or his representa- 



I90 BUSY ON WAR-LIKE ERRANDS 

tlve. After waiting half an hour, sending messages 
back and forth, he finally wanted to know ' how for- 
eigners met each other ' (notwithstanding that he was 
' in the country ' ) or, In other words, ' how they 
shook hands.' After answering this silly question, 
I was admitted to his presence. I walked up to him 
and presented my hand. Chinese-like, he gave me 
his left hand." 

We conclude that the interview was satisfactory, 
as the mandarin, as a great favor, permitted Philip 
to go all over the city. " In the ' rounds ' I visited 
a joss-house and, at the request of the priest, gave a 
little coin to ' joss ' to keep the devil from visiting 
the innocent people after I had left." 

That the fVachusett's services, in the matter of set- 
tling difficulties with the Orientals, were in great de- 
mand at this time, is shown by the fact that, as soon 
as she had made repairs and replenished at Wham- 
poa, she started for Corea to inquire Into the murder 
of the General Sherman s crew. This trading 
schooner, while working her way up the Ping Yang 
river, Corea, September, 1866, ran hard and fast 
aground and her people were clubbed to death. 

Sailing from Hong Kong, December 29th, the 
Wachusett, after taking aboard two pilots and the 



^^^B 






-<^r 



EXERCISING FORCE IN COREA 191 

Rev. Mr. Corbett as interpreter at Chefoo, ap- 
proached the scene of trouble, January 23, 1867 ; with 
her guns cast loose and shotted, ready for any emer- 
gency. As there were no charts, the Americans were 
obliged to advance cautiously, lest they might share 
the fate of the General Sherman. There being from 
twenty- four to one hundred and twenty feet shown at 
each cast of the lead, and the tide rising and falling 
forty-eight feet. It can readily be understood that un- 
usual care had to be exercised. 

Finally the ship anchored in Chemulpho harbor, 
near an island, and some natives came aboard to in- 
quire the stranger's business in these sacred waters. 
After much trouble, a Corean was found willing to 
carry a dispatch to the mandarin of the district. 

While waiting for an answer, Philip explored the 
harbor and, getting his ship under way, anchored in 
a bay about six miles up the river; "which Captain 
Shufeldt says shall be called ' Philip's Bay.' " There 
is no bay of that name on the United States naval 
charts to-day, but there is " Philip's Islet " to the left 
of the entrance of Chemulpho harbor. 

On the morning of January 29th, a Corean official 
came aboard in response to the dispatch. At first 
he pretended to be a private citizen but, on being 



192 BUSY ON WAR-LIKE ERRANDS 

sharply questioned relatively to the tragedy, " wound 
himself up in lies and unintentionally revealed his 
character." Finding that It was Impossible to learn 
anything official at this time, Captain Shufeldt, after 
assuring the mandarin that a large naval force would 
appear in the spring for satisfaction, sent him ashore. 

Leaving Chemulpho, the Wachusett, after riding 
out In a blinding snow storm, touched at a small 
Island on the southern coast of Corea, which she had 
been Instructed to examine with a view to establishing 
a naval station. " On the next day," said Philip, 
February 2d, " the ship was overrun with Coreans of 
all classes, eager to see everything. . . . But 
they would give nothing In return for jack-knives, 
tobacco or money, for fear their heads would be 
chopped off for communicating with outsiders." 

After a stay of three weeks at Shanghai, the Wa- 
chusett resumed her attempt to steam up the mighty 
Yangtse river, arriving at Hankow March 6th. This 
visit was designed to impress upon the chief mandarin 
the Importance of the United States. " The old fel- 
low has always had the Idea that our country was a 
small place not far from, but. subject to, China; and 
would not recognize our Consul." On the next day 
this really great offxclal, who had the absolute " power 



A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT 193 

of life or death " over many million people, came 
aboard the cruiser; and, before he left, his views were 
materially changed — particularly after seeing her 
*' monstrous " ordnance. 

In returning down the river, the Wachusett was 
just in time to prevent the destruction of the city of 
Kin Klang by rebels, who were threatening it on all 
sides. By remaining there several days she delayed 
their attack until a Chinese military force arrived. 

In several places in his diary, Philip speaks appre- 
ciatively of the kindness of the missionary families, 
and notes a number of Instances where they officiated 
aboard the Wachusett. On visiting NIngpo, late in 
April, Philip had touched at every open port on the 
station. He says: "The missionary families here 
and at Foo Chow are the nicest families we have vis- 
ited In the East. They seem more home-like." The 
writer will be excused, perhaps, for noting that among 
the missionary families In Foo Chow, at this time, 
was that of the Rev. Robert Samuel Maclay, D. D. 
The writer, the youngest of eight children, was then 
four years old and had his first interview with the 
future great Admiral. 

Returning to Hong Kong, September 2d, the wel- 
come " homeward bound " orders were received but, 



194 BUSY ON WAR-LIKE ERRANDS 

a few days later, to the bitter disappointment of 
Philip, he was transferred to the Hartford. Only 
those who have spent several years in foreign parts 
can appreciate the keenness of delight with which offi- 
cers and men look forward to the day of " home- 
sailing." Philip was on his first prolonged absence 
from the United States. Yet, even in the privacy of 
his diary, he has not one suggestion of fault-finding 
or reproach for the order detaining him on this, now, 
doubly distasteful station. A finer illustration of sub- 
mission to duty cannot be imagined. When the fVa- 
chusett sailed, September i8th, no one was heartier 
in wishing her a speedy and pleasant passage, than 
Philip. 

On September 8th, while at Hong Kong, Philip 
experienced one of the startling incidents of this cruise. 
In the afternoon, a terrific typhoon " smashed " over 
the harbor and, all that night, it was at its height, 
setting all the vessels in port adrift. About mid- 
night, a Spanish ship dragged down on the Hartford, 
capsized and sank under her. At great peril, all 
hands were saved excepting the Spanish master's little 
son. " It was a frightful night." By daylight it 
was seen that several ships had sunk, others were dis- 
masted and many were ashore. Philip was all day 



ADMIRAL BELVS TRAGIC DEATH 195 

trying to get the Hartford clear of the Spanish wreck. 

Soon afterward, the flagship sailed for Japan to 
attend the opening of the port of Osaka. She arrived 
there December 20th. On January ist, 1868, the 
place was opened to foreign commerce with much for- 
mality, there being present many American and Euro- 
pean war ships. 

It was only a little more than a week after this 
that Admiral Bell met his tragic death. Under date 
of January nth, Philip says: "This has been the 
saddest day of our cruise. Admiral Bell, Fleet Lieu- 
tenant-Commander Reed and ten of our men were 
drowned. By the last mail we received orders to re- 
turn home. Consequently, the Admiral was anxious 
to finish all business here and go south. For the last 
two days it has been blowing such a gale that it was 
impossible to go ashore but, this morning, it having 
moderated a little, the Admiral ordered his barge 
and, with Mr. Reed, started for the bar. But 
scarcely had the boat struck the breakers, at the mouth 
of the river, than it was capsized. 

" The officer of the deck and I were on the poop 
of the Hartford, watching the party. We at once 
sent four boats from our squadron but, although they 
arrived in a comparatively short time, they succeeded 



196 BUSY ON WAR-LIKE ERRANDS 

in saving only three men. Afterward all the bodies 
were recovered." Two days later they were interred 
with imposing ceremonies, all the men-of-war taking 
part. 

The Hartford returned to Hong Kong February 
20th, but she had been there only a few days when 
it was decided to return to Japan and remain there 
indefinitely, on account of some trouble with the na- 
tives — and, again, Philip was subjected to a bitter 
disappointment. But he bravely bore up, saying: 
" If duty requires us to go back, we will do what our 
country expects of us, with pleasure and alacrity." A 
noble sentiment — nobly expressed ! 

But, fortunately, on March 5th the order to return 
to Japan was revoked, and, on the 21st, " the happiest 
day I have spent in China," the Hartford steamed out 
of Hong Kong harbor. " All the sailors in the rig- 
ging were hurrahing at the top of their voices and, at 
the last cheer, nearly every one of them threw his cap 
overboard while some let fly from the mastheads 
gamecocks, ducks etc." The ship arrived In the 
United States the following summer. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

"in piping times of peace" 

As we have seen in the last chapter the Hart- 
ford returned to New York in the summer of 
1868 and Philip, for a few months, had the pleas- 
ure of again being in his native land. In the 
following December he was attached to the Richmond 
of the European squadron of which ship he became 
executive officer. " Before his promotion to com- 
mand rank," said Admiral Higginson, " Philip never 
went to sea in any other capacity than that of execu- 
tive officer; except once in the Richmond, in which 
vessel he was for a short time navigator. I think he 
told me he never stood a regular deck watch in his 
life. This, of course, was owing to the fact that he 
left the Naval Academy just at the commencement of 
the civil war when there was a life-size premium upon 
regular undergraduates. 

" Philip's reputation as an executive was excelled 
by none and equaled by few. He seemed also to 
have a remarkable success in attaining the favor and 

197 



198 "IN PIPING TIMES OF PEACE" 

respect of his commanding officers who, although 
varying in disposition and temperament, allowed 
Philip to maintain the routine and discipline of the 
ship in his own way; and, when he became captain, 
he treated his own executives in like manner." 

A higher compliment could not be paid and, com- 
ing as it does from one of the most successful officers 
in the service, it has peculiar weight. It is Impossi- 
ble for the layman to appreciate the multiplicity of 
detail — demanding Immediate attention and instant 
decision and action — that confronts the executive 
officer of a war ship every day. He is held strictly ac- 
countable and solely responsible for the result of 
every one of his orders. It was one of the captains 
in the navy, just before the civil war — a typical " sea 
dog " of the old school — who said: — 

" I always quarrel with my executive officer." 

While this, without doubt. Is an exaggeration, it 
is to a large extent the trend of feeling between the 
commander and his executive in too many Instances — 
not because of any incompatibility of temperaments 
but as a result of the singularly trying and " rasping " 
relations between them. 

Such being the exposed surface of the executive 
officer's life, on the upper side, we can understand 



TRIALS OF AN EXECUTIVE 199 

how the other side — that presented to the officers 
and crew — could easily be chafed and torn with the 
weary detail of carrying on routine, so that between 
these upper and nether millstones of official associa- 
tion we can readily imagine that it requires a man of 
unusual ability and accomplishment to render the lot 
of an executive officer a happy one. 

Speaking of Philip's relations with his brother offi- 
cers, Admiral Higginson says: "While a strict dis- 
ciplinarian, Philip was always just and, consequently, 
popular with the crew; although without any unoffi- 
cer-like efforts to obtain their favor. But, I think, 
where he showed the greatest tact and force of char- 
acter was in his management of the wardroom, a 
problem much more difficult than with the crew. 

" This quality has been styled the science of living 
among men. There is no other thing that Is so tax- 
ing, requires so much education, so much wisdom and 
practice, as the art of living among our fellow men, 
justly, charitably and harmoniously. In importance, 
this art exceeds all other skill and knowledge; and 
Philip possessed it to a high degree. What, with his 
good nature, tact, firmness and ability, it was impos- 
sible to have a discordant mess where Philip was 
executive officer." 



200 " IN PIPING TIMES OF PEACE " 

Captain Delehanty, in a reminiscence, has given 
us an inkling of the secret of Philip's successful 
method of maintaining discipline among his officers: 
" While in command of a ship he had, among his offi- 
cers, an able and popular man who was prone, how- 
ever, to assume authority and responsibilities which 
belonged not to him but to the commanding officer. 
This officer had offended in this way on several occa- 
sions, which Philip had allowed to pass unnoticed. 
Finally he said to him one day: — 

" Mr. Blank, will you let me see your orders to 
this ship?" 

" ' Certainly, Captain; do you mean the Navy De- 
partment's orders to me to report here for duty? " 

" * Yes,' said Philip, and Mr. Blank went below 
for his orders and brought them to the Captain who 
pretended to read them very carefully and, handing 
them back, said: — 

" ' I thought I was right; you were ordered to this 
ship as so and so and I thought I was the only one 
ordered to command.' 

" It is needless to say that this reproof was not 
lost on Mr. Blank and, I can add, that it Increased 
his respect and affection for his Captain for he was 
an officer who would not have brooked an attempt 



PHILIP'S TACT 20I 

on the part of his subordinates to assume authority 
superior to his own ; yet he, probably, would not have 
had the nice tact to correct the offense in such a 
way." 

As Illustrating his ability to gain the affection of 
the crew, the two following anecdotes, by Chaplain 
Tribou, will here be given. Philip, at that time was 
captain of the New York and was at Rio de Janeiro, 
with the American naval force, to look after our in- 
terests during the Da Gama episode. 

Chaplain Tribou says: "There was a small boy 
in the ship's company who was mischief itself. 
Among the pets In the New York was a Brazilian 
pig, which the men named Da Gama. One day this 
young rascal hauled one of the big, burly boatswain's 
mates to the mast and reported him for abusing the 
pig. Now, cruelty to animals Is so utterly unknown 
among sailors that the Captain was disposed to laugh, 
so he said to the boy : — 

" ' Is that pig any relation to you?' 

" ' No,' replied the young reprobate, ' but that 
pig's got feelings just the same as you have.' " This 
was too much for Captain Philip and he dismissed the 
case. 

" At another time a man came to the mast to com- 



202 " IN PIPING TIMES OF PEACE " 

plain that he was kept in the fourth class in conduct. 
His reputation was bad but he wanted to know the 
reason why he was forever kept on that class. Philip 
looked at him an instant and said : — 

" ' Well, I think you ought to know and so I will 
tell you. It's only because there is no fifth class.' " 

When the Richmond arrived in the Mediterranean 
her fame as being one of the " best kept ships " afloat 
rapidly spread while her exercise with sails and 
spars " was a thing of beauty to behold." Admiral 
Higginson says : " During the summer, the exer- 
cises all were done in the morning, before breakfast, 
Philip taking charge of the deck at seven o'clock and 
keeping it until eight when, after spreading awnings, 
coiling up the gear and sweeping decks, the crew 
would be piped down to breakfast. 

" We had a splendid crew and they threw them- 
selves with enthusiasm into this early morning work; 
not only on account of their ambition to excel every 
other vessel of the squadron, which they did, but be- 
cause it gave them a rest during the remainder of the 
day and enabled them to keep clean the white clothes, 
which they had put on at breakfast time." 

Admiral Taylor gives an amusing incident — illus- 
trating Philip's coolness when, literally, " under fire " 



LITERALLY UNDER FIRE 203 

— that occurred while their ships were at Lisbon. 
He says: "I met Philip again In 1868 and 1869, 
he as navigator of the Richmond. Our ships had 
long been In Lisbon and we made many trips together 
In that picturesque vicinity. Once, we went to a point 
on the bank of the Tagus, opposite Lisbon, for the 
purpose of taking observations of the sun to rate our 
chronometers. He would mark time for me while 
I took the sights and we would then reverse, I mark- 
ing the time for him. 

" There were some workmen near by engaged in 
excavating a dock. One or two of them came to us 
and, in their patois, said something very earnestly. 
Neither of us understood and were, besides, much 
engrossed with our observations. A few moments 
later, another deputation of the workmen approached 
and, with some solemnity of visage and much ejacu- 
lation and gesticulation, jabbered at us. Jack, who 
had his eye at his sextant in the midst of a series of 
sights, carried on a running commentary as follows ; — 

" ' Go 'way, Dago; go 'way. Dago (Mark Harry; 
did you get It that time?) * Go 'way Dago (Mark 
Harry) .' 

" Finally, our interviewers drew away with solemn 
shrugs of protest and, just as Jack and I had finished 



204 ''IN PIPING TIMES OF PEACE" 

our series of sights, a tremendous explosion occurred 
in an excavation near by — almost shaking us into 
the Tagus — and, a moment afterward, the rub- 
bish, which the blast had thrown skyward, began 
raining down on us in the shape of dirt, pebbles and 
rocks up to the size of a coal scuttle. In the midst 
of the infernal din, and while the danger was really 
imminent. Jack's wild laugh rang out as he called 



mer- 
it ( 



Watch the Dagoes' faces, Harry.' " 
" The Dagoes, evidently, thought us crazy and 
were astonished that we were not more alarmed at the 
explosion." 

On the completion of his term of service in the 
Richmond, November, 1871, Philip returned to the 
United States and did shore duty. From September 
of the following year to June, 1873, he was again 
executive officer of the flagship Hartford on the 
Asiatic station where he experienced much the same 
duty he has so fully described in his journal of a 
cruise in those waters, 1 865-1 868. In June, 1873, 
he was assigned to the command of the old side- 
wheeler Monocacy. 

About this time the officials of the Pacific Mail 
Steamship Company adopted the policy of engaging 



IN THE MERCANTILE SERVICE 205 

officers of the United States navy to command their 
passenger ships plying between San Francisco, Yoko- 
hama and Hong Kong. It was a position calling, 
not only for the highest seamanship but, for those en- 
gaging qualities and that social tact so necessary In 
making a ship attractive to passengers. 

The writer had the privilege of making this pas- 
sage several times and can say that the one he has 
the most pleasurable recollection of was that taken 
in a steamer commanded by a United States naval 
officer. 

The trip from San Francisco to Yokohama, in 
those days, usually took from eighteen to twenty-five 
days and, being made in the then " most unfre- 
quented ocean," it was especially monotonous — it 
often occurring that not a single sail, or sign of human 
life (outside of the ship's company), was seen from 
port to port. Even a school of porpoises or a fleet of 
Portuguese men-of-war afforded amusing excitement 
and welcome rehef. 

We can better understand, therefore, how difficult 
a task the commander of such a ship had in stimulat- 
ing the passengers by false alarms about " Cape Fly- 
away," the " springing " of a tin wedding celebra- 
tion on some unsuspecting officer, showing gullible 



2o6 "IN PIPING TIMES OF PEACE" 

landlubbers how the ship was crossing " the line " 
by placing a hair over the end of the spyglass — and 
such other ingenious devices as only the resourceful 
commander of a fashionable passenger ship could hit 
upon. 

We can easily imagine that Philip's contagious 
laugh, his ready wit and his love for a practical joke 
found ample field for indulgence among the many 
unsophisticated voyagers who had the good fortune 
to sail in his company. 

This system of engaging navy officers In passenger 
ships was introduced at a time when our navy was at 
Its lowest ebb; when there were too many officers 
and too few ships, so It became a welcome relief to 
find a duty that was, In some respects at least, active." 
Philip's genial personality made friends for him 
wherever he went and, from February 28, 1874 to 
1876, he enjoyed a leave of absence from the Navy 
Department and commanded one of the finest Pacific 
Mail steamers then running — he having been com- 
missioned a commander, December 18, 1874. 

On the conclusion of his service with this company, 
Philip was ordered (July, 1876) to command the 
Adams, but In April, 1877, another leave of absence 
was granted to him so he could take charge of the 



A PICNIC 207 

*' Woodruff Scientific Expedition Around the 
World " ; an enterprise Inspired by James O. Wood- 
ruff of Indianapolis, Ind., but which did not, It seems, 
get much beyond the advertising page of a weekly 
periodical. 

While waiting for this " Expedition " to mate- 
rialize, Philip, In the summer of 1877, visited his 
cousin, Mrs. J. F. Sanford at Great Harrington, 
Mass., and It was while he was at a camping party, 
on the shore of Lake Garfield, that some interesting 
reminiscences of him are preserved by Marcus H. 
Rogers — one of the party. 

Mr. Rogers says : " His companions In the camp 
came to know and appreciate the rare worth of the 
man, the gentleness and nobility of his nature, just 
as the world knows and honors him to-day. He was 
a most jovial companion and heartily enjoyed the 
almost constant flow of fun and frolic; for there were 
some wits and wags in the party and some to manage 
entertainments — adding much to the life and enjoy- 
ment of the camp. Commander Philip himself was 
a most delightful talker, but the members found It 
was not easy to get him to talk much of his personal 
experiences. 

" So they used to play little games upon him by 



2o8 "IN PIPING TIMES OF PEACE" 

having some young lady, who might attract his at- 
tention, manage to get him started upon a subject 
connected with his command of the Woodruff Scien- 
tific Expedition Around the World; and, then, the 
others would quietly join the group, one by one, and 
he would almost unconsciously hold them all charmed 
for an hour with accounts of his experiences In China 
or Japan. And It was rare fun to observe the look 
of confused surprise when he came to a stop and 
realized the large additions to his audience." 

Mr. Rogers tells another story about Philip: 
" Commander Philip was accompanied from the Cat- 
skills by a niece and nephew. Jamie was then a 
bright and typical boy, out for all the fun he could 
get and, though there were many demands made upon 
him, he pretended to avoid as much labor as possible 
and he wouldn't hurry. One day, when returning 
from an expedition in the boats on the lake, there 
were many things to be carried up to the camp : such 
as baskets, cushions, chairs and wraps; and one 
camper volunteered to bring one thing and another 
to bring something else, until ample provision had 
been made. Commander Philip took a full share 
when he quietly remarked, with a merry twinkle in 
his eye, that ' Jamie will bring up the rear.' " 



ON THE PACIFIC COAST 209 

As the Woodruff Expedition " fell through," 
Philip, in December of the same year, was ordered 
to command the Tuscarora and, for two and a half 
years, was engaged in surveying the west coast of 
Mexico and Central America. In August, 1880, he 
was transferred to the Ranger and it was while in 
command of this ship that Jack — then just forty 
years old — married, having the good taste " to pre- 
fer," not only " a fine ship " but, a " fine lady " — 
Mrs. Cowan of San Francisco. 

In his reminiscences of Philip, Admiral Balch says: 
*' On board the Pawnee (during the civil war) it was 
often the occasion of merriment, when ladies visited 
the ship, that, at these times, it was the habit of 
Phihp (owing to his great difiidence) to dodge the 
fair visitors by going fishing — and as they were be- 
ing received on board, on one side of the ship, Philip 
would disappear over the other side." 

In reference to this point Admiral Higginson says: 
" Philip had the most chivalrous regard for good 
women and, though very shy in their presence, no 
man would sacrifice himself more to do them service." 

As we have already seen, it was while Philip was 
in command of the Ranger, that he met his fate. The 
*' droll story by Captain Delehanty," referred to by 



210 "IN PIPING TIMES OF PEACE" 

Captain Mahan, in his Introduction to this work, Is 
as follows: " Somewhere In the '8o's Philip was In 
command of the Ranger, surveying the coast of 
Lower California, with headquarters at San Fran- 
cisco. Most of the Ranger's officers were married 
men, who had their wives and families in San Fran- 
cisco, and every time the Ranger went to that port 
all of these officers (who were not required by the 
regulations to remain on board) would stand ready 
at the gangway to go ashore — dressed in their civi- 
lian's clothes — very quickly after the ship had come 
to anchor. 

" On one of these occasions, Philip was walking 
the quarter-deck with the officer of the deck and, as 
a boat-load of officers pushed off from the ship, he 
remarked to his companion : — 

" ' It spoils an officer of the navy when he gets 
married.' 

" It happened that, on this visit of the ship, which 
was one of some duration, Philip met his fate and 
promptly went over to the army of Benedicts. 

" On the next visit of the ship to this port, Philip 
was one of the eager group to get ashore as soon as 
the anchor was down. It happened that the officer 
of the deck was the same to whom he had made this 



A DROLL STORY 211 

observation on the former visit and, as Philip passed 
over the side and reached the gangway ladder, he 
turned and saw the officer with a broad smile. Philip 
instantly recalled the incident, stepped back on the 
deck and whispered in this officer's ear : — 
" ' I haven't changed my opinion.' " 



CHAPTER XVII. 

REFORMING A " HOODOO " SHIP 

For ten years after this Philip enjoyed duty on the 
Pacific coast, being detached from the Ranger in Oc- 
tober, 1883, and from April, 1884, to April, 1887, 
serving as lighthouse inspector in the twelfth dis- 
trict. From May, 1887, to May, 1890, he com- 
manded the receiving ship Independence at Mare 
Island, California — having been commissioned a 
captain March 31, 1889. On the close of this last 
service Philip returned to the Atlantic seaboard and 
from December, 1890, to December, 1891, he com- 
manded the Atlantic after which he became general 
inspector of the cruiser New York, then building at 
Philadelphia and on her completion, August, 1893, 
he commanded her. 

Chaplain Tribou, who was ordered to this new 
cruiser, says: " For some time after joining the 
ship, Philip was somewhat reserved in his manner, 
as it seemed to me, and, while he always listened to 

212 



''CLEAR SHIP FOR ACTION!" 213 

my suggestions and (so far as I can now remember) 
generally approved them, he was very slow to sug- 
gest anything. He did not like the service to be too 
short and he once said to me : — 

" ' Chaplain, don't you think it would do those 
young fellows good if you read more Scripture to 
them?' 

" I took the hint (even then I knew him well 
enough to know that I had better) and the services 
were lengthened in consequence." 

Owing to the revolution in Brazil, the New York 
was ordered to South American waters to act as a 
part of the force under the command of Rear-Ad- 
miral Benham. On the 26th of December, 1893, 
this ship sailed for Rio de Janeiro. She arrived at 
St. Lucia where she put in for coal on a Sunday 
morning but, it being an English port, all business 
was suspended and, in the ordinary course of events 
it would have been impossible to recoal until the fol- 
lowing day. Captain Philip, however, had received 
orders to proceed to Rio de Janeiro with all possible 
dispatch and, in spite of his scrupulous regard for the 
Sabbath, he soon found means to have the coal de- 
livered at once. " There was no service that day," 
said Chaplain Tribou, " and I believe It was the only 



214 REFORMING A "HOODOO" SHIP 

day when we did not have service at least once on 
Sunday during the time he was in command." 

" There was one Sunday," continues Mr. Tribou, 
" when we had service only once. I shall never for- 
get it. It was just after Admiral Benham had in- 
formed Da Gama that American merchant vessels 
would go where they pleased in the harbor of Rio, 
so long as they did not interfere with the military 
movements then taking place. I had gone on deck 
to ask the officer of the deck for permission to hold 
the regular service. I found him at the port gang- 
way and the Captain just coming up the ladder. As 
Philip stepped on deck he said : — 

" ' Clear ship for action; we're going to clean out 
those fellows (pointing to Da Gama's ships) at day- 
break.' 

" His face was wreathed in smiles and he was as 
impatient as a boy to see the work begin. There 
was nothing said about service for in less time than 
it takes to tell it, the boatswain's mates were pip- 
ing: — 

" ' Clear ship for action.' 

" There was a gun in the Captain's stateroom which 
required some overhauling and it was nearly mid- 
night when he turned in. I don't think he slept much, 



PHILIP GETS THE TEXAS 215 

for he was on deck as soon as day broke and remained 
there till the rebels acknowledged that the Americans 
had the freedom of the harbor. Philip had craved 
the privilege of attacking Da Gama's ship, which 
was the most formidable of all." 

At this time there was a great deal of yellow fever 
In Rio de Janeiro, and it was especially virulent 
among the shipping. None of the officers or sailors 
In the American squadron was allowed to go ashore, 
except a few who were not subject to the dreaded dis- 
ease. As Chaplain Tribou had been acclimated, Ad- 
miral Benham (who had the San Francisco as his 
flagship) permitted Philip to send the chaplain ashore 
to perform such little commissions as the officers 
might desire. *' I did not remember," says Tribou, 
" that Captain Philip ever asked me to do an errand. 
He was one of the most unselfish men I ever knew and 
was more than willing to give up his own comforts 
for the benefit of those less fortunate than himself." 

Philip was detached from the command of the 
New York In August, 1894, and from October of the 
same year to October 17, 1897, he was captain of the 
Boston Navy Yard; at which place he was ordered 
to command the Texas. The Incidents leading up to 
Philip's appointment to this famous ship form some 



2i6 REFORMING A ''HOODOO" SHIP 

of the interesting side-lights of naval history. As 
Is well known, the Texas, at that time, had an un- 
fortunate reputation and was not regarded as offer- 
ing a desirable berth — either for officers or sailors. 

In a paper dealing with this subject Captain Dele- 
hanty says : " The Texas was then known as a ' hoo- 
doo ' ship, but most of the officers who served in her 
held a far different opinion of her; and it was my 
task to prove to Philip that her reputation could be 
retrieved. The following evening I dined with the 
Captain in his home, when we renewed our discussion 
of the subject and he, finally, concluded to make ap- 
plication to the Navy Department for the duty; to 
which the Department promptly and favorably re- 
sponded." 

To Lieutenant Francis J. Haeseler Is due a large 
measure of the preparedness of the Texas when she 
made her celebrated dash in the naval battle of San- 
tiago. Mr. Haeseler has given the following In- 
teresting account of Philip's connection with that 
ship: "Toward the close of the summer of 1897, 
the officers of the battle ship Texas were beginning 
to wonder who would relieve Captain William Clin- 
ton Wise, [Wise was Philip's shipmate in the old 
Wachusett']^ then commanding the ship, and, of 



PREPARING FOR BATTLE 217 

course, were very hopeful that it would be some one 
who would command their respect and admiration, 
and keep the ship's company as happy as it then was. 
It was with the greatest relief and pleasure that we 
heard that our new captain was to be John Wood- 
ward Philip and, while we regretted losing Captain 
Wise, we all felt that he could not be better succeeded 
than by the man who was coming." 

Speaking of Philip's democracy, Mr. Haeseler 
says: "Shortly after joining the ship Philip in- 
formed us that there was no bulkhead between the 
wardroom and cabin and that we should never think 
of sending our names in by the orderly but we were 
to come in unannounced. At the same time, he would 
stroll into our quarters at any time and it was an ex- 
ceptional thing for a day to go by without the Cap- 
tain coming into the wardroom for a smoke and chat. 
He took the keenest interest in our mess ; made each 
one of us feel that he was a friend and we had no 
hesitancy about going to him at any time. At the 
same time, no one ever heard of any one being un- 
duly familiar or taking advantage of his free and 
easy manner with us." 

It was during the winter of 1897-98 that the 
North Atlantic Squadron, under Admiral SIcard, went 



2i8 REFORMING A "HOODOO" SHIP 

south to continue its exercises on the southern drill 
grounds. Philip's term of sea service had now nearly 
expired. " His detachment," said Lieutenant 
Haeseler, " was expected at any time and his relief 
had been practically settled upon. He, frequently, 
spoke to us of the officer who was coming to relieve 
him and what he would do toward continuing the 
work in the Texas, tending to increase her efficiency 
as a fighting machine. 

" But, when the news of the sinking of the Maine 
came, we heard nothing further on the subject of a 
change in the command of the Texas. On the con- 
trary, the Captain's entire energies seemed to be de- 
voted to doing what he could to have the ship ordered 
at once to a navy yard where certain work, which he 
believed to be desirable and necessary and which had 
been approved by the Bureau of Ordnance, could be 
started." 

Lieutenant Haeseler continues : " He saw clearly 
that war was inevitable and to command a ship which 
was handicapped as the Texas was, preyed upon his 
mind and he made every effort to get where repairs 
could be effected. Finally, he succeeded in getting 
orders to proceed north and, with Lieutenant-Com- 
mander Delehanty (who had but recently been re- 



'AN OMINOUS HANDSHAKE 219 

lieved from the position of executive officer of the 
Texas), easily succeeded in getting Mr. Roosevelt, 
then Assistant Secretary of the Navy, interested in 
the proposed changes. The Texas was ordered to 
the New York Navy Yard where the repairs were 
successfully made. The ship then went to Hampton 
Roads and joined the Flying Squadron. While we 
were there. Captain Philip's efforts to get the ship in 
the highest possible state of efficiency continued and, 
in every way, we were preparing for every emergency 
liable in battle." 

About an hour before the Texas sailed from the 
Navy Yard for the scene of active operations, a 
woman came into the cabin and said to Philip : — 

" Is this the Captain of the Texas f" 

Being assured that it was, she extended her hand 
and said: " I would like to shake hands with the 
Captain of the Texas." 

Philip was about to assure her that " the pleasure 
was all his," when she continued: — 

" I was the last person to shake hands with the 
Captain of the Huron before she sailed, and I wish 
to shake hands with you before you sail." 

The Huron, it will be remembered, went down 
with all hands, a few hours after leaving port. 



220 REFORMING A ''HOODOO" SHIP 

" On the way down to Key West, and until we 
actually took the ship Into battle," said Lieutenant 
Haeseler, " the Captain was most energetic and pains- 
taking in carrying on drills, tending to fit us for 
action, and he showed his great tact and knowledge 
of human nature by not having useless, tiresome drills 
and inspections which would only kill the men's in- 
terest." 

Speaking of this preparedness of the Texas, Ad- 
miral Higginson says : " While not himself a techni- 
cal officer, Philip was quick to seize upon that knowl- 
edge In others and, allying it with his own force and 
push, before which all obstacles seemed to vanish, 
carried the work in hand to a successful completion. 
And his acknowledgments for such assistance were 
always most full and complimentary. No officer 
who ever worked with Philip for the accomplishment 
of an Improvement or a reform, failed to receive 
proper credit for his work. 

" The most striking example of this was the way 
in which he put the Texas into fighting condition, just 
before the Spanish war. When he took command of 
her, he found that the mechanism of her turret guns 
was so defective that they could not be fired, except 
at long intervals. To remedy this he bent all his 




THE SEARCHLIGHT ABOARD THE TEXAS. 



ABLE ASSISTANTS 221 

energies, knowing, that, If called upon to encounter 
a vessel of the enemy, this extreme slowness of fire 
might be the cause of his defeat. He found most 
efficient coadjutors In Lieutenants Haeseler and Bris- 
tol who, with remarkable Ingenuity and mechanical 
skill, devised a system of mechanism by which the 
guns could be fired with greater comparative rapidity. 
Philip, taking Lieutenant Haeseler with him, visited 
the Navy Department and, overcoming a certain 
amount of red tape, by his arguments, succeeded In 
having the work done as he desired, and, under the 
supervision of Lieutenant Haeseler, so that In her 
final action she was quite as efficient as any vessel In 
Sampson's fleet." 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

BEFORE SANTIAGO 

It is not necessary, in a work of this character, to 
give a detailed account of the incidents that led to the 
declaration of war against Spain. Our interest, at 
present, is confined solely to the part the Texas played 
in that spectacular and dramatic conflict. 

As we have already seen, this ship went south to 
the winter drill ground of the North Atlantic fleet 
and was there when the news of the Maine disaster 
was received. A successor to Captain Philip, in the 
command of the Texas, had already been decided 
upon and Philip, himself, was calmly discussing the 
probable course the new commander would take. 
When the news of the Maine was received, however, 
" nothing further on the subject of a change In the 
command of the Texas was heard " — as Lieutenant 
Haeseler has laconically expressed it. 

These few words, if dwelt upon, portray a striking 
picture: the commander, with the possibility of war 

222 



NEWS OF THE MAINE DISASTER 223 

far removed from his thoughts, calmly packing up his 
effects, preparatory to returning to shore duty; but 
who, at the first signal of actual war, drops all thought 
of leaving his ship, plunges into the work of getting 
her in the best possible trim for battle, and pleads and 
begs that his ship might be taken to some place where 
her machinery of death could be made even more 
deadly. 

At the time the news of the Maine disaster reached 
Philip, he was at Galveston, Texas, where he had ar- 
rived on the day of the tragedy. He did not hear of 
it until the next morning when some of the officers, 
returning from the shore, showed him the newspaper 
accounts. " Our Captain," said Chaplain Jones, 
" met us on the quarter-deck and, as we handed him a 
newspaper, he looked at it. His face turned deathly 
pale. Then addressing me he said : — 

" * If that is true, we will see war before we see 
New York ' " — the Texas, at that time, being under 
orders to sail northward. 

In a few days the Texas returned to Dry Tortugas 
where every preparation was under way for active 
hostilities. As we have already noted, the Texas 
went to the New York Navy Yard for repairs, in 
March, and left there April 6th, arriving at Hampton 



224 BEFORE SANTIAGO 

Roads the next morning where she became a part of 
the Flying Squadron under Commodore Schley. From 
this place the Flying Squadron proceeded south, ar- 
riving at Key West May 1 8th. It was from this base 
that Schley sailed to intercept Cervera's fleet, arriv- 
ing off Cienfuegos, May 2 2d, and off Santiago on the 
26th. On June ist Admiral Sampson arrived on the 
scene of action and the Flying Squadron came under 
the immediate orders of the commander-in-chief. 

In the long, dreary days of the blockade, the offi- 
cers frequently exchanged visits and many old-time 
acquaintances were freshened up. " I was inexpres- 
sibly pleased," said Admiral Higginson, " to have 
Philip near me. It seemed such a fitting ' round up ' 
to our life-long friendship that we should be along- 
side each other in the final act of the drama. His 
station was next to mine on the blockade and we 

would often visit each other and exchange ' wig- 
wags ' signals. 

" He used to be quite envious of what he called my 

' roof garden,' which was a little cabin built on the 

bridge deck of the Massachusetts where I slept and, 

outside of which, under an awning, I often had my 

meals served. Here, he would sometimes join me 

and, with a fresh trade wind blowing and, looking 



''GOOD LINE SHOT" 225 

over the water at the surrounding battle ships, the 
Morro and the beautiful background of mountains of 
Santiago, we obtained a pleasant respite from the ter- 
rible heat of our cabins. He had no such arrange- 
ment on the Texas." 

On another occasion there was an interchange be- 
tween these two ships that was not so pleasant, for 
Admiral Higginson says: " One day, when the crew 
of the Massachusetts were loading the secondary bat- 
tery, one of the men accidentally fired off one of the 
small guns which, at the time, was pointed directly to- 
ward the Texas. I, naturally, was very anxious about 
the result, but presently the ' wig-wag ' flag on board 
the Texas sent to me this message from Philip : — 

" ' Good line shot, but a little high,' the shot hav- 
ing gone directly over the Texas." 

With a view to discouraging attempts toward in- 
creasing the defenses of the harbor and, also, to giv- 
ing his men further practice at the guns under actual 
war conditions, Sampson, soon after his arrival on the 
scene of action, began a series of bombardments on 
the Morro which was kept up to the date of Cervera's 
sortie. The first of these attacks took place on the 
morning of June 6th, or about fifty hours after Hob- 
son had made his memorable dash into the harbor en- 



226 BEFORE SANTIAGO 

trance. On this, as on all other similar occasions, 
Sampson divided his ships into two columns, the first 
or eastern column, consisting of the New York, 
Yankee, New Orleans, Oregon and Iowa; and the sec- 
ond, or western column, consisting of the Brooklyn, 
Marblehead, Texas and Massachusetts. The Dol- 
phin was to steam toward the east side of the harbor 
and the Snwanee and Vixen to the west, in order to 
fire on any troops that might appear. 

At 7.41 A. M. the New York, leading the eastern 
column, opened fire, and, in a short time all the Amer- 
ican ships were engaged. Sampson led his fighting 
craft inshore, until within two thousand yards of the 
forts. The enemy's feeble protest was quickly over- 
ruled and a storm of missiles, falling in and around 
the fortifications, tore up the earth, dismounted some 
of the guns and entailed considerable loss on the 
enemy. • 

The Reina Mercedes, which was lying nearest to 
the harbor entrance, though not in sight of the Amer- 
icans, was struck thirty-five times, one of the missiles 
setting the ship on fire in several places and causing 
the death of Commander Emilio de Acosta y Eyer- 
man, the second in command. 

Five of her sailors, also, were killed and about 



A TERRIFIC BOMBARDMENT 227 

twelve wounded. " Acosta was directing the extin- 
guishing of the fire in the forecastle when a large shell 
cut off his right leg at the hip and also his right hand; 
mutilating him horribly. But he lived for half an 
hour, urging the men to extinguish the fire." ^ 

That this bombardment gave the Spaniards a 
wholesome dread of American gunnery is seen in the 
notes of Lieutenant Miiller, who says: " When the 
American fleet opened fire it was so intense and the 
shots followed each other in such quick succession 
that it might have seemed like a fusilade — if the 
mighty thunder of guns can be compared with the 
crackling of small arms. By nine o'clock it became 
somewhat slower, shortly after reaching again the 
same intensity; then decreasing once more at 10.15, 
and again becoming terribly intense at 10.30. At 
11.02 it ceased. Punta Gorda battery fired only 
seven shots. . . . During the first moments the 
firing was so intense that it resembled one prolonged 
thunder. In fact, I had no idea that any firing could 
be so terrific as that of those ten ships. Much has 
been said of the bombardments of Sebastopol and 
Alexandria, but I do not believe that they could have 
been as terrible as the bombardment we suffered that 

1 Lieutenant Jose Miiller. 



228 BEFORE SANTIAGO 

sixth day of June — a day which the inhabitants of 
Santiago will never forget." * So apprehensive were 
the enemy of further attacks from the Americans that, 
on June 9th, they contrived a log boom, strung with 
a steel cable, and swung it across the harbor en- 
trance.^ 

It was this bombardment that brought forth 
Philip's earnest protest against firing the first shot on 
a Sabbath. It seems that the attack had been planned 
to take place on June 5th, Sunday. Admiral Hig- 
ginson says: " I remember one Saturday a council 
of war was being held aboard the New York when 
the subject of a proposed attack upon the batteries 
was being considered. Sampson and his staff offi- 
cers were telling the captains what was expected of 
them and furnishing them with the general order 
which had been drawn up for the occasion, Philip 
drew Sampson aside in the cabin and said to him with 
concentrated earnestness : — 

" ' Sampson, don't you do it.' 

" ' Do what? ' said Sampson. 

" ' Don't fight on Sunday.' 

"'Why?' 

1 Account of Lieutenant Miiller. 

* See Maclay's History of the Navy, Vol. Ill, pp. 329-330. 



"DON'T FIGHT ON SUNDAY" 229 

" ' Because,' said Philip, ' if you search all history, 
you will find that whoever fired the first shot on Sun- 
day was defeated.' 

" This proposition was immediately assailed by the 
Philistine captains but Philip stood his ground with 
simple and sincere earnestness, strong in his faith; 
and Sampson, who was himself a religious man, said 
in his simple way: — 

Well, gentlemen, there seems to be some objec- 
tion to fighting this action on Sunday and I must 
confess that I was brought up that way myself, so we 
will postpone the attack until Monday.' " 

On the 15 th of June Sampson detailed the Texas 
and Suwanee to shell a small fort on the western arm 
of Guantanamo harbor, that had occasionally fired 
on our ships. The Marhlehead, which had remained 
in this port, joined in the attack. In passing through 
the narrow channel the Marhlehead' s propeller fouled 
a contact mine while the Texas set one adrift. Each 
machine contained one hundred pounds of guncotton 
and it is remarkable that both ships were not de- 
stroyed. 

Speaking of this affair Lieutenant Haeseler says: 
" Captain Philip took the ship up the channel and, 
though the presence of torpedoes was feared, the ship 



230 BEFORE SANTIAGO 

went up until she was in the mud and from that posi- 
tion opened fire on the forts and, assisted by the 
Marblehead and Suwanee, proceeded to carry out her 
orders to destroy the forts. It was during this pas- 
sage up the channel that we dislodged a torpedo and, 
when we got it on board, found the dent made by our 
propeller blade, between two of the contact arms for 
firing the torpedo. The torpedo was brought to us 
by a launch from the Marblehead which had also dis- 
lodged at least one of them and the Captain seeing 
the dent remarked : — 

" ' Cracky, but that was a close call ' — and that 
was all. 

" In going up the channel, and in coming down, 
the ship passed within fifty yards of a point covered 
with undergrowth and after we had passed, on the 
way out, fire was opened from this point on the 
launch of the Marblehead. Captain Philip directed 
the Suwanee to go to the assistance of the launch, 
which she did, and after a vigorous shelling of the 
point by the Suwanee the firing was silenced. The 
next day a landing was effected at this point and a 
large number of dead Spanish soldiers was found 
there. The remarkable thing about it was that, when 
the Texas passed so very close (with her bridge full 



"AN INCIDENT OF THE IFAR" 231 

of officers standing near the Captain) , the Spaniards 
did not open fire. Had they done so the chances 
are that every officer on that bridge would have suf- 
fered. 

" After the forts were destroyed the Texas turned, 
came down the channel, proceeded out to sea and back 
to her station off Santiago — being cheered by the 
crews of the Marblehead and St. Paid as she passed 
out. One of the officers of the latter ship said: — 

" ' It was one of the incidents of the war. The 
Texas came in at full speed, slowed down, signaled 
the Marblehead to follow ; went up, opened fire, de- 
stroyed the forts, came down again and went out to 
sea — all in the most matter of fact way imagi- 
nable.' " 

While passing out of the harbor, a press boat 
ran alongside and " having just heard that it had been 
reported at home that he had been killed," con- 
tinues Lieutenant Haeseler, " Captain Philip hailed 
the boat and asked the reporters on board of it if 
they had seen in the papers that he was reported 
dead. The answer came back ' Yes.' So the Cap- 
tain said : — 

Well, you may contradict that, for here I am 
alive, as you see ! ' To which they replied : — 



232 BEFORE SANTIAGO 

" ' Yes, and very much alive at that.' " 

With a view to misleading the enemy as to what 
place our army would attempt a landing, Sampson 
had directed several attacks to be made simultane- 
ously at different points along the coast. Early on 
the morning of June 2ist the Texas bombarded the 
small fort west of Santiago, called Cabanas, while 
several transports were to close in as if to land troops. 
As the Socapa battery began a spirited discharge of its 
cannon. Captain Philip could not resist the tempta- 
tion to engage and, moving eastward, began one of 
the " prettiest exhibitions of gunnery in this war." 

The only mark the Texas had was a faint, reddish 
line of earthwork, scarcely distinguishable in the dis- 
tance, yet shell after shell from her 12-inch guns was 
pitched into that small area, throwing up clouds of 
dust, opening yawning chasms and completely spoil- 
ing the enemy's aim. At first, the Spaniards re- 
sponded with deliberation, one missile striking the 
Texas, killing one man and wounding eight; but, as 
the Americans acquired the range, the enemy was soon 
put to flight. 

In reference to this action Lieutenant Haeseler 
says: " After completely silencing the fort, the ship 
was signaled to withdraw and, coming within hail of 




EFFECT OF A SPANISH SHELL IN THE TEXAS. 



OUT OF COMMON SHELL 233 

the Brooklyn, Captain Philip reported his casualties. 
We had run out of 6-inch common shell and had been 
using armor-piercing shell which did not burst and 
were not as effective as the common shell would have 
been under the same circumstances. So, when Com- 
modore Schley hailed us and asked if he could help 
us In any way, Captain Philip replied : — 

The only help we want Is plenty of 6-inch 
common shell,' which was heartily applauded on the 
Brooklyn." 



CHAPTER XIX. 

Philip's own story of Santiago 

(From the Century Magazine for May, 1899, by 
courtesy of the Century Company.) 

Once in the weary days of waiting before the San- 
tiago Morro, when none of us knew whether we were 
to lie there inactive for a year or to be blown up the 
next minute by a torpedo, a man came to me and 
said: — 

" Captain, I don't know about this thing of stand- 
ing up to get shot at. I never thought much about 
the Peace Society before, but I am becoming more 
and more convinced that I ought to join it. The 
truth is, if Cervera ever comes out of his hole and 
begins throwing i i-inch shells at me, I am very much 
afraid that I shall be very much afraid." 

I met this man again on that bright July afternoon 
a week or two later, as we lay off Rio Tarquino, 
watching the quiet surrender of the last ship of the 
Spanish squadron, with the decks of the Texas sole- 

234 



"WERE YOU AFRAID?" 235 

deep in saltpeter from her guns, her forward upper 
works shot away, the marks of a Spanish shell In her 
pilot-house, and the fragments of another in her fire- 
room, but still able to flutter the signal " No casual- 
ties." He looked twenty years younger. His eyes 
were still bright with the joy of battle. 

" Were you afraid? " I asked. 

" I hadn't time to think about it," he replied. 

His somewhat whimsical apprehensions had been 
born of the tension of waiting. 

It is easy now to speak lightly of the blockade, but 
it made more than one man in our squadron hollow- 
eyed and fitful-pulsed. A less equable race could 
never have maintained it as did the officers and men 
under the command of Sampson and Schley. 

Although this is intended to be a brief account of 
the battle of Santiago as seen from the Texas, I men- 
tion the blockade because it was the blockade that 
made the battle possible. The battle was a direct 
consequence of the blockade, and upon the method 
and effectiveness of the blockade was very largely de- 
pendent the issue of the battle. It was necessary to 
have always before the entrance to Santiago harbor 
a force of ships amply sufficient to cope with the Span- 
ish squadron, should it come out to do battle, and it 



236 PHILIP'S OWN STORY OF SANTIAGO 

was necessary to have this force so disposed that none 
of the Spaniards could escape, if that were their ob- 
ject, no matter what direction they should take. Un- 
remitting vigilance by night and by day was an 
absolute necessity. Under the orders of Admiral 
Sampson, the blockade was conducted with a success 
exemplified by the result. 

It was a terrible strain, that month of watching 
for what no man knew. For weeks hammocks were 
unknown on the Texas, with half the entire crew by 
turns on watch at night. Every one on board, from 
'prentice to officer, met the arduous conditions cheer- 
fully. Rarely was there an infraction of disciphne. 
One night two tired boys were reported to me as 
asleep when they should have been awake. It was 
an offence punishable with death in time of war. I 
called them aft next morning, in the presence of the 
assembled crew, and told them that the safety of all 
depended upon the vigilance of each. They looked 
for sympathy from their comrades, but got not a 
glance. With a few more words of admonition, I 
sent them below in tears, knowing full well that never 
again would those two boys sleep on post. 

That our officers and men bore up so well under 
this strain, when a trip to Guantanamo for coal was a 



EVERY ENGINE READY 237 

welcome relief, and a bombardment of the Santiago 
fortifications a joyous dissipation, is a cheering in- 
stance that the American character has plenty of that 
dogged steadfastness which is more valuable to the 
doing of things than dash and brilliancy alone. 

So, when the Spanish admiral at last made his dash 
to escape, we were ready — ready with our men, 
with our guns, and with our engines. Any one who 
intimates the contrary is mistaken, or is desirous of 
provoking technical discussion which would leave the 
public, not understanding the exigencies of the situa- 
tion, with the impression that there was somewhere a 
culpable laxness. The Texas, for example — I need 
not speak for any other ship — was churning a white 
wake before the first black prow of Cervera's squad- 
ron had fairly showed around Puntilla. Within 
three minutes of the time when the alarm was given 
she was under way at full speed and firing, with every 
man at his post. What more can " readiness " de- 
mand? 

Cervera's sally had been so long expected that when 
it actually came it was unexpected. I, for one, did 
not dream that, after declining the issue for a month, 
he would come out In broad daylight. On the morn- 
ing of July 3d our ship was in her assigned blockad- 



238 PHILIP'S OWN STORY OF SANTIAGO 

ing position a little west of south from Morro Castle, 
which point was exactly fifty-one hundred yards dis- 
tant from the Texas, then lying between the Brooklyn 
and the Iowa. The Texas was somewhat farther In- 
shore than either the Brooklyn or the Iowa, the 
former being to the westward and the latter to the 
eastward of her. East of the Iowa, again, were the 
Oregon and the Indiana, wiiUe the Gloucester flanked 
the Indiana Inshore, and the Vixen the Brooklyn, 

I was half-way up the steps leading from the cabin 
to the main-deck when the electric gongs sounding 
tlie general alarm smote my ears with a fierceness 
that made me jump. On deck oflicers and men were 
running to their assigned stations In time of action, 
some of the oflicers who had been off duty buckling 
on their sword-belts as they ran. I heard some one 
cry, " They're coming out ! " Glancing toward the 
Morro, I saw three wreaths of smoke blackening the 
blue sky over the hills beyond the entrance. It was 
just thirty-six minutes after nine, by our clock. The 
ship was already under way, headed in. From our 
signal-halyards flew the flags representing general 
signal No. 250, " The enemy is attempting to es- 
cape." Lieutenant Mark L. Bristol had been the 
officer on duty on the bridge, and he had lost no time 



A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT 239 

when his quick eyes had discovered the signs of 
Cervera's sally. Just as I reached the bridge the 
foremost of the advancing Spanish ships poked her 
nose around Puntilla. As she swung around she 
fired, and almost immediately afterward our forward 
6-inch spoke. The first shell fired by Cervera threw 
up a column of water short of us and between the 
Texas and the Iowa. 

On each side of the Texas the Brooklyn and the 
Iowa were coming up with a tremendous rush. The 
dash of these two ships, as soon as the alarm was 
given, straight for the enemy, with cascades of water 
pouring away from their bows (the proverbial " bone 
in her teeth " of the writers on nautical matters) , was 
one of the most beautiful sights of the battle. They 
seemed to me to spring forward as a hound from the 
leash. Farther east, the Oregon and the Indiana 
were also headed in, ready for business. From some 
of the ships fluttered the same signal that we dis- 
played, " The enemy is attempting to escape." 
When so many hundreds of eyes must have seen the 
approach of Cervera at once, it is to the credit of all 
that none claims the distinction of having been the 
first to discover the sally. 

The executive officer of the Texas, Lieutenant- 



240 PHILIP'S OWN STORY OF SANTIAGO 

Commander Harber, and the navigator, Lieutenant 
Heilner, joined me on the bridge, Lieutenant Bristol 
hastening to his post at the port 1 2-inch turret gun. 

It was only a few minutes after we had seen the 
leader of the advancing squadron that it became ap- 
parent that Cervera's plan was to run his ships in 
column westward in an effort to escape between the 
Brooklyn and the shore, before our heavier ships 
could get way enough to stop him. He afterward 
said that he had hoped to disable the Brooklyn if she 
showed fight, and to show a clean pair of heels to our 
battle ships. In this he made two grievous miscal- 
culations: one in the speed and state of preparedness 
of our heavier ships; the other, and perhaps even 
more vital, as to the deadly accuracy of American fire 
at long range. Before he had fairly found himself 
outside the Morro, the entire blockading squadron — 
Indiana, Oregon, Iowa, Brooklyn and Texas — was 
pumping shell into him at such a rate as virtually to 
decide the issue of the battle in the first few moments. 

All our ships had closed in simultaneously. When 
we started we were nearly three land miles distant. 
The first range that I sent to our 12-inch was forty- 
two hundred yards. At a quarter to ten, or ten min- 
utes after the alarm was sounded, the range was given 



SCARCELY A BREATH OF AIR 241 

to me as thirty-four hundred yards by Naval Cadet 
Reynolds, who was manipulating the range-finder on 
the bridge. This was for the Spanish flagship, which 
we could see was one of the Vizcaya class, and which 
we then thought was the Vizcaya. As everyone 
knows now, she was the Maria Teresa. 

As the Spanish squadron steamed proudly past the 
gray-walled Morro and swung in seamanlike precision 
of column under the guns of Socapa, the scene from 
the bridge of the Texas, as the smoke lifted from 
time to time, was inspiring. A more beautiful morn- 
ing we had rarely seen, even in those sunlit tropic 
waters. Scarcely a breath of air rippled the long- 
rolling green swell of the Caribbean. Over the 
waters the mountains of Santiago thrust their lofty 
wooded peaks into the unclouded sky. On each hand 
were our ships of war rushing to the fray, at close 
view battle-scarred and begrimed, but at our distance 
glistening in the sunlight and majestic in their sug- 
gestion of irresistible power. The picturesque old 
Morro, which we had come to regard with feelings of 
friendship, or at least of good acquaintance, rose 
straight ahead of us, still flaunting the red-and-yellow 
flag. 

The Spanish ships came out as gaily as brides to 



242 PHILIP'S OPVN STORY OF SANTIAGO 

the altar. Handsome vessels they certainly were, and 
with flags enough flying for a celebration parade. 
" They certainly mean us to think they have started 
out, at least, to do business," remarked an officer near 
me, gazing at the huge battle-flags that swung from 
the peaks of the Teresa; " but perhaps they have 
some white ones ready for an emergency." It was 
this array, perhaps, which caused Lieutenant Heilner 
suddenly to look aloft. There was the old Texas 
pottering along grimly, without any insignia of war 
except the Stars and Stripes in its usual place at the 
stern. 

" Where are our battle-flags? " he cried. 

" I guess they won't have any misconception about 
our being in battle," I remarked, as one of our 6-inch 
shells threw up a column of spray that seemed to fall 
over the Teresa's deck. But he wanted battle-flags. 
"What's a battle without battle-flags?" he de- 
manded, and hurried a messenger after them. The 
messenger returned with the information that the 
flags were in the locker and that the chief signal- 
quartermaster had the key. The signal-quartermas- 
ter just then was very busy and somewhat inaccessi- 
ble, being at his post in the fore upper top. " Then 
smash the locker," said the lieutenant, and at last we 



FIRST SHOTS FROM THE TEXAS 243 

got our battle-flags up. I don't know that the Texas 
fought any better after that, but the lieutenant was 
certainly happier. 

The first shots of the Texas were directed, as I 
have said, at the Teresa at long range, as we were 
steaming almost direct for the harbor entrance. In 
a very few minutes the engagement had become gen- 
eral. Every one of the Spanish vessels fired as she 
came broadside on, rounding the western point of the 
harbor entrance, and the whistle of shells passing 
over our heads became unpleasantly frequent. Occa- 
sionally I saw a column of water shoot straight up in 
the air, geyser-like, where one of their shells had 
struck near the ship, but, as nearly as I could tell, 
most of their shots had too great elevation and were 
passing harmlessly over us. I had altered the Texas' 
course to the westward, seeing that that was the di- 
rection in which the Spanish squadron was going. 

Then occurred the incident which caused me for a 
moment more alarm than anything Cervera did that 
day. As the Texas veered westward, the Brooklyn 
was plowing up the water at a great rate in a course 
almost due north, direct for the oncoming Spanish 
ships, and nearly a mile away from the Texas. The 
smoke from our guns began to hang so heavily and 



244 PHILIP'S OWN STORY OF SANTIAGO 

densely over the ship that for a few minutes we could 
see nothing. We might as well have had a blanket 
tied over our heads. Suddenly a whiff of breeze and 
a lull in the firing lifted the pall, and there, bearing 
toward us and across our bows, turning on her port 
helm, with big waves curling over her bows and great 
clouds of black smoke pouring from her funnels, was 
the Brooklyn. She looked as big as half a dozen 
Great Easterns, and seemed so near that It took our 
breath away. 

" Back both engines hard," went down the tube to 
the astonished engineers, and In a twinkling the old 
ship was racing against herself. The collision which 
seemed imminent, even if it was not, was averted, and 
as the big cruiser glided past, all of us on the bridge 
gave a sigh of relief. Had the Brooklyn struck us 
then. It would probably have been an end of the Texas 
and her half-thousand men. Had the Texas rammed 
the Brooklyn, It would have been equally disastrous ; 
for the Texas was not built for ramming, and she 
would have doubled up like a hoop. Few of our 
ship's company knew of the incident. 

It was really the one time In the battle when I 
thought for a second that I should have to give In to 
that woman in Brooklyn who shook hands with me 



IN GRIM CHASE 245 

just before the Texas sailed, explaining that she was 
the last woman who had shaken hands with the com- 
mander of the Huron, that ship having been lost with 
most of her company immediately after the fatal 
hand-shake. I always wanted to fool that woman if 
possible. 

This happened about a quarter to ten. The Texas, 
after having exchanged compliments with the Teresa, 
was thrashing the Vizcaya and the Oquendo with her 
main starboard battery. They were then the second 
and third ships in line, the Colon, which was third in 
coming out, having drawn inside of the Vizcaya. The 
hottest part of the battle was at about this period. 
The Oregon and the Iowa had come up with a rush. 
Both, from their starting positions, came inside of the 
Texas, the Oregon, by reason of her superior speed, 
gradually forging ahead of us. We found ourselves 
warmly engaged with a Spaniard which subsequently 
proved to be the Oquendo. 

The supreme disadvantage was the smoke from 
our own guns. It got in our ears, noses and mouths, 
blackened our faces, and bhnded our eyes. Often 
for minutes at a time, for all we could see, we might 
as well have been down in the double bottoms as on 
the bridge. One had the sensation of standing up 



246 PHILIP'S OWN STORY OF SANTIAGO 

against an unseen foe, the most disagreeable sensation 
in warfare. As the shells were screaming about our 
ears in uncomfortable frequency, I decided — for the 
sake of the men exposed with me on the flying bridge, 
as well as for myself — to go to the lower bridge, 
which encircled the conning-tower. There one could 
see as well, and some of the bridge contingent, at 
least, would have the protection of being on the lee 
side of the tower. In addition to the executive offi- 
cer, navigator and range-finder, I had with me on or 
near the bridge a corps of messengers. I found the 
messenger system more advantageous than the sole 
use of telephones and speaking tubes. For each 
watch-officer there were special messengers who an- 
swered the call of the officer's name. For instance, 
when I wished to give a direction to Lieutenant 
Haeseler, in the starboard turret, I called, " Haese- 
ler! " and instantly a messenger was at my side. I 
gave him the message, and In an instant it was re- 
peated into the ears of the officer. These messen- 
gers, mostly apprentice boys, I found in every case 
alert, eager and fearless. After the first few mo- 
ments of nervousness, they entered into the spirit of 
the fight with a marvelous zest. I remember hear- 
ing one of these boys, a youngster, surely not over 



A NARROW ESCAPE 247 

sixteen, in the very hottest of the battle, remark to 
another, " Fourth of July celebration, eh ? A little 
early, but a good one ! " 

That we left the flying bridge was extremely for- 
tunate, or providential. Within a minute — in fact, 
while we were still on the bridge, making our way 
down the only ladder — a shell struck the jamb of 
the starboard door of the pilot-house and exploded 
inside, wrecking the paneling and framing, and car- 
rying away the after-bulkhead. Had we not gone 
below, the wheel-man must have been killed, and 
probably some of the others standing on the bridge. 
This was the first of the three times we were struck. 

The Texas fired from her main battery only when 
a good target could be plainly seen. I gave explicit 
orders to that effect, and they were carried out faith- 
fully. When the smoke lifted and the enemy could 
be seen, the gunners took careful aim and fired delib- 
erately. It seemed better to fire a few shells and 
place them, than a great many and lose them. Had 
it been necessary, thanks to the improvements made 
in the turret appliances by Lieutenant Haeseler, we 
could have pumped a shell every minute and a half 
from each of our 12-Inch guns. As it was, the men 
in the Texas turrets have reason to congratulate them- 



248 PHILIFS OWN STORY OF SANTIAGO 

selves on the fact that the two big shells which did 
find their way into the Spanish vessels, so far as dis- 
covered by the official board of survey, were 12-inch 
shells. 

There was credited to the Texas little or no confu- 
sion in any part of the ship at any time in the course 
of the battle, and no orders went wrong. Although 
most of the ship's company had to work, as it were, 
in the dark, they had been well drilled, and did their 
duty with mechanical precision, fortified by intelligent 
patriotism. 

At ten minutes to ten, as we went to the lower 
bridge, the Iowa, Oregon and Texas were pretty well 
bunched, holding a parallel course westward with the 
Spaniards. The Indiana was also coming up, well 
inside of all the others of our squadron, but a little in 
the rear, owing to her far eastward position at start- 
ing. The Oregon drew up with the Texas, and 
blanketed her fire for a moment or two. 

In the course of our fight with the Oquendo a shell 
exploded over our forward superstructure. The con- 
cussion lifted the bridge contingent off their feet. I 
remember pitching up in the air, with my coat-tails 
flying out behind me, as if I had been thrown by one 
of Roosevelt's broncos. No one was hurt except 



INJURIES TO THE TEXAS 249 

Cadet Reynolds, one of whose ear-drums was split. 
Our port cutter was blown into kindling, the wood- 
work of the superstructure was torn to bits, and the 
ship took fire. But the Texas was ready for just such 
an emergency, and in a twinkling a score of willing 
men were playing the hose upon the blaze, regardless 
of danger. 

A few moments later the Spaniards got in a luckier 
shot. A shell about six inches in diameter struck for- 
ward of the ash-hoist, and, after passing through the 
outer plating of hammock-berthing, exploded, the 
mass of pieces penetrating the bulkhead and casing of 
the starboard smoke-pipe. This shot, fortunately, 
hurt nobody, but it caused considerable excitement in 
the fire-room. Fragments of the shell dropped down 
there; the hammocks and portions of the sailors' 
clothing stored in the berthing caught fire and also 
fell below, causing such a gush of smoke in the fire- 
room that some of the men thought the ship had 
blown up. That there was no panic there, nor any- 
thing like one, speaks volumes for the discipline of 
the men and the efficiency of the engineer officers. 

Soon after ten o'clock we first observed the so- 
called destroyers, and at once turned our secondary 
battery upon them. The Iowa, Oregon and Indiana 



250 PHILIP'S Of FN STORY OF SANTIAGO 

also devoted their attention to the much-dreaded httle 
craft. The hammering they got from the four ships 
must have been terrific. As we passed on down the 
coast, leaving the destroyers in the rear, we saw the 
Gloucester was pounding them to a finish at close 
range. The Furor, the leading destroyer, blew up 
with a crash that sounded high above the roar of bat- 
tle. There was a great gush of black smoke and a 
sheet of flame seemed to leap above the tops of the 
hills under which the doomed craft lay. The men 
of the Texas have always insisted that this was caused 
by a shell from Ensign W. K. Gise's 6-inch gun. 

About a quarter past ten the Teresa, which had 
been in difficulties from the moment she left the shel- 
ter of the Morro, turned to seek a beaching place. 
She was on fire, and we knew that she was no longer 
a quantity to be reckoned with. Five minutes later, 
our special enemy, the Oquendo, also turned inshore. 
The Fizcaya was then in the lead, with the Colon not 
far away and inside. It seemed to us as if the Colon 
were trying to shield herself, and that was undoubt- 
edly the reason why she gave us so long a chase. 
When her sister ships were blown up she was unin- 
jured. 

At twenty-five minutes to eleven, as the Texas 



IN SILENT CHASE 2 si 

passed the Oquendo, that ship ran up a white flag, and 
I gave the order, " Cease firing." The Oregon and 
the Brooklyn were in the lead, the Oregon consider- 
ably farther inshore, hammering at the Vizcaya and 
the' Co/o«. The two Spanish ships ashore were seen 
to be burning fiercely. We could see boatloads of 
men leaving them. The Indiana and the Gloucester 
went in to receive their surrender and rescue their sur- 
vivors, while the rest of us pushed on after the two 
remaining ships. Then we knew that the battle, 
which had lasted less than an hour, was virtually over. 
But there were still two of the enemy's ships to run to 
ground. The Colon forged well ahead, and was 
running like a greyhound for safety, but keeping so 
far inside that she followed the sinuosities of the 
coast. The Texas followed the Oregon at her best 
speed, the men in the engine and fire-rooms working 
like beavers. The Vizcaya kept blazing away 
viciously, but the pounding she got from our four 
ships, more particularly the Oregon, was too much 
for her, and in half an hour she too headed for the 
beach. At a quarter to eleven the Brooklyn was 
abeam of her, about two miles outside; the Oregon 
was nearly abeam, half a mile farther inshore; and 
the Texas was on the starboard quarter of the Oregon 



252 PHILIP'S OWN STORY OF SANTIAGO 

and about a mile in the rear. All three were steering 
parallel courses to the westward. The Fizcaya was 
still firing occasionally, and at fairly long intervals 
our ships took a well-aimed shot at her. We could 
see that she was on fire, and knew that her surrender 
was only a question of time. Just after eleven o'clock 
she veered toward the shore. The Oregon and the 
Brooklyn paid no further attention to her, but put 
after the Colon, which was scurrying westward at a 
great rate. As we drew up on the Vizcaya, a moment 
or two later, her stern flag came down on the run. 
There were colors still flying from her truck, how- 
ever, and as she displayed no white flag, some of our 
officers thought that she might not yet have surren- 
dered, and that the stern flag might have been shot 
away. But we could not fire on her, even if she had 
not surrendered. Flames were shooting from her 
deck fore and aft, and as her nose touched the beach 
two tremendous explosions in succession literally shook 
her to pieces. The Iowa having been signaled by 
Admiral Sampson to go in to her, I determined to 
push on with the Texas, to render assistance, if any 
were needed, in capturing the last survivor of the 
squadron. 

That ship, wiliest of all the Spanish vessels, was 



BAGGING THE GAME 253 

making a great race for liberty. Something might 
happen to the Oregon; the Colon was supposed to be 
the superior of the Brooklyn in strength; it was very 
clearly the duty of the Texas to keep along in the 
chase, with all her energies. It gives me pleasure to 
be able to write that, old ship as she is, and not built 
for speed, the Texas held her own and even gained 
on the Colon, In that chase. When it was seen later 
that there was no earthly chance for the Colon to 
escape, I shut off our forced draft, remembering the 
hard-working and gallant fellows in the engine and 
fire-rooms. In this chase but few shots were fired on 
either side. It was a test of engines, and not of guns, 
and we hoped to capture the ship uninjured. 

For two hours this grim and silent chase was pur- 
sued over the smooth and foamless seas, under a sky 
of blue, and with a background of beautiful Cuban 
mountains. The Colon, following the coast, was In 
a trap. The Brooklyn, drawing ahead, made to cut 
her off at a point of land jutting out farther west- 
ward. The Oregon, nearly abeam, cut off any at- 
tempt to escape by striking out to the open sea. The 
Texas, in her wake, prevented her doubhng. 
Hemmed in on all three sides, there was only the 
the shore to choose, and the Colon wisely chose it. 



254 PHILIP'S OWN STORY OF SANTIAGO 

At a quarter past one the Colon surrendered and 
beached. The Texas signaled, " Enemy has surren- 
dered." The signal was repeated by the Vixen, then 
coming up behind us, to the New York, some miles 
to the eastward, but was not acknowledged. The 
Texas closed in on the Colon a few minutes after the 
Brooklyn and the Oregon. 

In this fascinating account of the naval battle of Santiago 
Philip, very modestly, has omitted two .important details. It 
was when the Almirante Oquendo beached, a hopeless wreck, 
that he said " Don't cheer, men ; those poor devils are dying." 

Chaplain Jones of the Texas describes the second " important 
detail," which occurred after the surrender of the Cristobal 
Colon, as follows : " As our captain came toward us he uncov- 
ered his head, then looking at his men, said : ' Men, I have 
always had implicit confidence in the Texas, my officers and my 
crew, but my greatest confidence is in Almighty God, and I 
wish to make public acknowledgment, here to-day, of my belief 
in prayer, and I ask every man of you to uncover his head with 
me, that is, if you have no religious scruples, and silently thank 
God for our deliverance and for the victory He has given us. ' 

" There they stood, stripped to the waist, blood streaming from 
their strained muscles, their bodies stained from the powder, the 
coal dust and smoke of the fire-room ; but from the heart of 
every one of us that beautiful Sabbath morning went up the most 
fervent prayer that ever left the heart of man." — Experiences of 
a Chaplain Ashore and Afloat, p. 243. 



CHAPTER XX. 

A HAPPY RETURN HOME 

On the conclusion of the naval battle of San- 
tiago — which was, practically, the close of the Span- 
ish war, — Philip returned to the United States and 
was the recipient of many honors. One of the best 
accounts of his home-coming is given by the Hon. 
H. B. F. Macfarland, President of the Board of 
Commissioners for the District of Columbia. 

Mr. Macfarland says : *' I first saw Admiral Philip 
on the day of the Dewey parade at New York. I had 
a note of introduction to him and, with his customary 
whole-hearted hospitality, he invited my wife and me 
to accompany him in his Navy Yard boat, at the head 
of the yacht division of the marine procession. I was 
more than gratified by this opportunity to be with him 
than by anything else in that interesting day. 

" The high spiritual character of Admiral Philip 
made him seem to me greater than any other of our 
naval and military heroes since Admiral Farragut, and 

255 



256 A HAPPY RETURN HOME 

I had looked forward to meeting him with the most 
pleasurable anticipations. He did not disappoint 
tham. On the contrary, he surpassed them. From 
the moment he received us, that bright morning, on 
the porch of the beautiful old house of the Com- 
mandant of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, until he set us 
ashore at the Battery in the evening, we saw him con- 
stantly. 

" His modesty, simplicity and courtesy were ap- 
parent in the first half hour. Later on we saw also 
the acuteness of his mind, the keenness of his sense of 
humor, the quaintness of his speech and his abound- 
ing good spirits. He was literally the life of the 
large party on the boat and made everybody feel at 
home. We were all Interested to see how affection- 
ately he was greeted by all the officers of his own 
time, from Admiral Dewey down, and how popular 
he evidently was with the men in the Texas and the 
other seamen who saw him that day. At times, 
things did not go right in the procession. Thee 
were some annoying delays but nothing seemed to ruf- 
fle his good temper and his thoughtfulness for others 
was constantly apparent. Naturally, he had to hear 
a good deal of praise for his noble conduct during and 
after the battle of Santiago and this seemed to be the 



IN THE DEWEY PARADE 257 

only thing that made him impatient ; although he was 
not displeased but, rather, like an unspoiled child who 
does not care to listen to what seems to him unneces- 
sary talk about his doings. He evaded efforts to 
make him talk about the subject of himself, although 
he was very frank and exceedingly interesting when 
talking about the battle of Santiago generally, and 
the naval campaign that led up to it, and was very 
emphatic in his praise of Admiral Sampson's manage- 
ment of the blockade and operation of the battle. 

" The thing that sticks especially in my mind is his 
strong expression of regret that Captain Higginson 
of the Massachusetts, after waiting so long for the 
battle and leaving to coal at Guantanamo (only un- 
der protest and after repeated orders) missed being 
in the fight. 

" The next day we saw Admiral Philip again rid- 
ing in the procession and brought an expression of 
mingled embarrassment and amusement to his face by 
cheering him by name, with the hearty assistance of 
all the other people on the stand as soon as they knew 
who he was." 

It may be well to give here an Incident that oc- 
curred in the parade at Philadelphia, shortly after the 
war with Spain. The column headed by Philip came 



258 A HAPPY RETURN HOME 

to a point where there was an unusual throng when, 
high above the din of martial music and patriotic 
cheers, some one shouted : — 

" There's Jack Philip." 

Philip turned toward the man, saluted and passed 
on. Afterward he remarked that he felt more grati- 
fied by having some one in that vast assemblage rec- 
ognize him as plain " Jack " Philip than he did by all 
the thunder of cannon, official salutations and pa- 
triotic applause. 

Mr. Macfarland continues: "Our mutual Inter- 
est in the Young Men's Christian Association, which 
furnished an agreeable topic In our conversation, 
brought us together again in a visit to the Naval 
Academy that I shall never forget. The Young 
Men's Christian Association of the Naval Academy 
Invited Admiral Philip to address its members and 
the other naval cadets. Admiral Philip suggested 
that I should be invited to speak at the same time, 
since he would make only a brief address and I was 
surprised to receive an invitation from the Associa- 
tion with his request that I accept It. Fortunately I 
was able to go and I shall never cease to be grateful 
for the opportunity. 

" The train arrangements made it necessary for us 



CANNON VERSUS PUBLIC SPEAKING 259 

to be In Annapolis Saturday evening and I met Ad- 
miral Philip again; first at the cadets' hop, which fell 
on that night, where he was naturally the observed of 
all observers and received admiring attentions. He 
was just the same as when we had seen him in New 
York and made similar Impressions. He confided 
to me that he wished he could go away without mak- 
ing a speech to the young * midshipmen,' as he called 
them, but that he had come because he felt he ought 
to come to encourage them to build up an association 
as large as that at West Point — and did not see how 
he could get out of it. But he was calm and cheerful 
and seemed to enjoy himself as much as the youngest 
cadet in the hall. 

" We saw him at chapel the next morning and ac- 
companied him and Mrs. Philip to the house of the 
Commandant of Cadets, where he met a number of 
naval officers who were old friends. Half humor- 
ously, half earnestly, in the intervals of much pleasant 
conversation, he protested that he wished he could see 
any honorable way out of his engagement to speak at 
the chapel in the afternoon. But, of course, as he 
said, there was none and, when the hour came for the 
meeting of the Association, he was ready — as he al- 
ways was when the hour of duty struck. 



26o A HAPPY RETURN HOME 

" The announcement that Admiral Philip would 
speak drew an unusual audience. Besides the cadets, 
who were present in large numbers, most of the naval 
officers and their families were present to hear what 
Admiral Philip had to say. After Cadet Charles S. 
Freeman, the fine young President of the Association, 
had concluded the opening exercises, he called upon 
Admiral Philip, who had begun to show signs of 
nervousness and who said to me, just before the call 
came, that he would rather face a cannon than that 
audience. 

" He told me afterward that it was always a severe 
ordeal for him to have to make a speech, however 
short, in public; but that to speak of his personal reli- 
gion before so many of his old friends and comrades 
was the most trying experience he had ever had, and 
that fighting in battle was much easier work. Noth- 
ing showed me the fineness and courage of the man 
better than the way he behaved that day. Curiosity, 
rather than sympathy with his position, doubtless ani- 
mated a number of his hearers, and he felt this 
strongly, together with the shrinking we all feel from 
speaking on that theme before our professional asso- 
ciates. 

" But those who saw him as he stood on the plat- 




MRS. JOHN WOOUWAKD PHILIP. 
(From a recent photograph.) 



ADDRESSING MIDSHIPMEN 261 

form, reading his brief address from typewritten 
pages, which shook silently in his hands, must have 
been indifferent not to love and admire him. He 
spoke to the cadets, primarily, of their duty to God, 
of the rewards of his service and of the advantages 
of the Association, which he urged them to build up ; 
but all that he said made its impression as he Intended, 
doubtless, on the older people present. 

" When I attended his funeral in that same chapel, 
only a few months later, some of those who heard 
him speak were also present and I felt that they, like 
myself, must be thinking of him as he stood there 
speaking of the eternal verities. I am sure that no 
one who heard him that day could forget what he 
said. After the service and handshaking was over, 
he was like a boy just out of school. He seemed re- 
lieved and glad that he had done his duty and that 
he would not have to do it. In just the same way, soon 
again. We saw him again at a friend's, after din- 
ner that evening, and the next morning journeyed 
back with him and wife as far as Odentown, where 
we parted with mutual Invitations to visit which could 
never be utilized. 

" He refused absolutely to speak for the Young 
Men's Christian Association in Washington, saying 



262 A HAPPY RETURN HOME 

that he would never dare to lift up his voice In public 
in the national capital, where the President and so 
many great men lived and where there were so many 
orators. Indeed, he seemed to have a dislike to be 
seen in Washington lest he should be suspected of 
lobbying or trying to get some advantage in assign- 
ments to duty. 

" ' I never go to Washington,' he said, ' except on 
official business that calls me there. I never stay over 
night, if I can help it, and I always get out of the city 
as quickly as I can.' " 

As illustrating the attachment of the men for Philip 
the following incident will be related : When Philip 
was commandant of the New York Navy Yard he 
chanced one day to be on a Staten Island ferry boat 
and was recognized by some man-of-war's men who 
were engaged in a heated argument over a point of 
professional interest. Not being able to settle the 
dispute one of them said: — 

" Well, there's Jack Philip. Let's leave it to him," 
and forthwith the men marched over to his side of 
the boat and laid the point in dispute before him. 

So far from being offended by the unusual conduct 
of these men, Philip listened patiently to all the 
stormy pros and cons, making a kindly inquiry here 



" YOU DON'T KNOJV PHILIP'' 263 

and there and, finally, " handed down " a decision 
that was convincing to all hands. One of the sea- 
men afterward remarked that they might be punished 
for thus imposing on the good nature of an officer, 
but one of his mates said : — 

" Oh, you don't know Jack Philip; you can always 
go to him, just as a son would go to his father." 



CHAPTER XXL 

PHILIP AND THE NAVAL Y. M. C. A. 

Admiral Philip's interest in the naval branch of the 
Young Men's Association in Brooklyn was so sincere 
and so vital to the success of the beautiful new build- 
ing now in Sands Street, that a biography of his life 
would be incomplete without some note of this work. 
Possibly, no one was more intimately associated with 
him in the enterprise (and, consequently, no one better 
qualified to describe it) than the Rev. Robert Edward 
Steele, late Chaplain, U. S. N. 

Mr. Steele's narrative of this work will be given 
In his own words as follows: — 

CHAPLAIN Steele's account. 

I first met Admiral Philip in his cabin in the Texas, 
just after the war and before his promotion to the 
rank of Commodore. Mr. W. B. Millar, who, as 
Secretary of the International Committee of the Y. 

264 



DREAD OF NOTORIETY 265 

M. C. A., had directed the remarkable campaign of 
that organization for both soldiers and sailors In the 
war with Spain, was with me. A meeting had been 
planned at which this undertaking was to be reviewed. 
General O. O. Howard, U. S. A., who had served 
under the banner of the Cross during the war, was to 
tell of his experiences In the camp and on the quarter- 
deck; and others were to tell of the work In the army 
and navy. 

It was important that prominent men from both 
services should be present and we felt that the man 
whose noble words and deeds had thrilled the Chris- 
tian pubhc after the battle of Santiago, was the man 
we needed from the navy. The meeting was to be 
held In the beautiful suburban residence of one of the 
philanthropic millionaires of New York and a num- 
ber of wealthy people, well able to aid In the prose- 
cution of the work, had been Invited. 

Philip dreaded nothing so much as public notice 
and notoriety. His nature was so well balanced that 
he could afFord to shrink from public praise, being 
well content with the approval of his own conscience. 
When he learned that his presence at the meeting 
would be used as an attraction, to draw together the 
people whom It was desired to reach, he positively 



266 PHILIP AND THE NAVAL 7. M. C. A. 

refused to go. We outlined to him the plan we had 
in mind for the establishment of the Naval Y. M. C. 
A. and on which I was then working under orders of 
the Navy Department. As we pictured to him the 
possibilities of such an organization for good to the 
enlisted men of the service, his face lighted up with 
interest and he began to ask questions which showed 
that he had made a deep and conscientious study of 
their needs. When we again pressed our request for 
his attendance and suggested that to help us in the 
matter was a duty he owed the men, he responded at 
once with : — 

" I will go. It will be my duty, no matter how un- 
pleasant it may be." 

This was the beginning of his connection with the 
great work which is destined to keep his memory 
ever fresh in the hearts of the enlisted men of the 
navy. Not very long after this, he was asked to 
become a member of the International Committee of 
the Young Men's Christian Association and chairman 
of its Naval Sub- Committee. To this he also gave 
a ready affirmative, as soon as he realized that his 
reputation and popularity would aid the cause of the 
men whom he loved. 

This was in the closing days of 1898. Admiral 



PROVIDENTIAL CALL TO BROOKLYN 26^ 

Bunce, Commandant of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, 
was to be retired on Christmas Day, he being sixty- 
two years old on that day. He had heartily indorsed 
the Y. M. C. A. in the initial stages of its work and 
it was a matter of serious import to the new enterprise 
(which was still in an embryonic state) that his suc- 
cessor should be a man who would take interest in it. 
While there were several officers of sufficient rank to 
warrant their choice for this place, in whom we had 
every confidence and of whose interest we were well 
assured, Commodore Philip was naturally the most 
desirable because of his relationship to the Committee. 

We were not disposed to use political or other 
influence with the Washington authorities and felt 
sure that the Divine care, so manifest up to that point 
in the enterprise, would be exercised in this matter 
also. It was made the subject of earnest prayer that 
God would give us Commodore Philip as Com- 
mandant of the Navy Yard. At one time it seemed 
as if the whole movement hinged upon his coming. 
He was then in command of the North Atlantic 
Squadron at Havana. 

He did not want to come to New York. His pref- 
erence was the Navy Yard at Boston. Prominent 
citizens of that city were asking for his assignment 



268 PHILIP AND THE NAVAL Y. M. C. A. 

there and he himself was asking it too. Men of the 
greatest political influence added their powerful voices 
to his and personally waited upon the Secretary of 
the Navy in his behalf. In spite of all this, he was 
sent to New York. Afterward, he saw the hand of 
God in the matter and rejoiced in it. 

He plunged at once into the work of the Associa- 
tion. As soon as he had taken command he began 
to exercise his influence in its behalf. His name 
was one with which to conjure in the navy. Every 
one, high and low, knew " Jack " Philip and any 
scheme in which he was interested was bound to win 
support in the service. Modest and retiring as he 
was by nature, he never hesitated to perform the 
most unpleasant tasks in behalf of the Y. M. C. A. 

One day in December, 1898, I saw him at his lodg- 
ing in Brooklyn (he had not moved into the Yard 
at that time) and laid before him our great need of 
money, if we were going on with our enterprise, sug- 
gesting that, if he would see some of the prominent 
wealthy men of the city we might get what we needed. 
He had never done such a thing in his life as to solicit 
funds from a stranger for any purpose and no task 
more distasteful or humiliating could have been im- 
posed upon a naval oflUcer. Every instinct of pro- 



MEETING SETH LOW 269 

fessional and personal pride was opposed to it, yet he 
did not hesitate, when he realized the necessity of the 
case. He agreed to go with me on the following 
morning to call on the Hon. Seth Low, whose well- 
known generosity gave promise of success and who 
had given practical evidence of his interest in naval 
seamen by generous gifts to a coffee house he had 
helped to found for them several years ago. 

Promptly on the stroke of ten we met at the New 
York entrance of the Brooklyn Bridge and took the 
elevated for Morningside Heights. We saw the 
President in his office at the University and, without 
any hesitancy, he gave us a generous gift toward our 
funds — the first contribution of consequence re- 
ceived for the new movement. There was some- 
thing characteristic of the two men in this incident — 
one generous and patriotic, and the other conscien- 
tious and unshrinking in the performance of duty. 

When we were planning the next step, after secur- 
ing the funds necessary to make the start, the question 
of a building came up. Again the Commodore gave 
his personal attention to It and together we searched 
the neighborhood of the Navy Yard. The suitable 
buildings were very few and at last narrowed down 
to two — one on the corner of Sands and Adams 



2 70 PHILIP AND THE NAVAL Y. M. C. A. 

Streets, and the other on the corner of Sands and 
Charles Streets. The clear sightedness of the Com- 
modore selected the latter which was the smaller of 
the two. He said : — 

" It is better to crowd a small building than to half 
fill a large one." 

When, after some delays and much hard work, 
the time had come for the formal opening, on Febru- 
ary 27th, again it was the Commodore's hand which 
put the finishing touches to every detail. The Navy 
Yard Band was present by his direction and invita- 
tions were issued by him to all the Navy people of the 
station and to many prominent people. The opening 
was a great success and set the keynote for the marvel- 
ous progress of the movement. All the afternoon a 
string of people passed through the rooms, admiring 
their neatness and adaptability to the needs of the 
men. The Commodore and Mrs. Philip received 
them. 

But at night, when about fifty of the sailors and 
marines took possession for the first time of their new 
quarters, it was Commodore Philip whose presence 
added most to their attractiveness. Secure in his high 
rank and having to the full that respect which is 
based on worth rather than rank, it was easy for him 



"INNOCENT" AMUSEMENTS 271 

to be natural In his cordiality toward them. They 
loved him then, but I venture the assertion that it was 
not with the depth of affection which developed later 
as they saw the outgrowth of his interest in them. 

After the building was open and the men began to 
use it freely and in considerable numbers, it was his 
pleasure to come up on Sunday afternoons and sit in 
the parlor smoking a cigar (after passing a handful 
to the men) and glancing over the papers. This was 
done to show his personal interest in them and the 
movement.^ 

One day an old sailor attached to the Vermont at 
the Navy Yard, told me of a difficulty he and other 
men had in getting aboard late at night. It was a 
rule of the Yard that enlisted men could not go alone 
through the Navy Yard after nine o'clock. They 
must be accompanied either by an officer or by a 
marine of the Guard. As the reliefs were posted 
every two hours it was the rule to compel men to wait 
for the next relief before going down. A man reach- 

1 It happened to come within the knowledge of the writer 
that one day, when Philip visited the naval branch of the 
Y. M. C. A., he found one of the sailors asleep on the lounge. 
Some of his mates started to awaken him when the Commo- 
dore stayed them saying: — 

" This is a place for harmless recreation and innocent 
amusement and I know of nothing more harmless and more 
amusing than a tired Jackie, snoring like half a gale of wind 
in a Y. M. C. A. parlor."— E. S. M. 



272 PHILIP AND THE NAVAL Y. M. C. A. 

ing the gate at five minutes past nine could not go 
down until eleven. Or if it were a minute or two 
after eleven he must wait until one A. m. The result 
of this rule was that men arriving a Httle late, went 
into the numerous saloons at the entrance and often 
became intoxicated — sometimes breaking their lib- 
erty in consequence. As soon as the Commodore 
learned of this he changed the rule and ordered that 
they should be allowed to go down every hour. 

Perhaps the hardest task he ever undertook for 
the men was to ask Miss Gould for the money with 
which to erect the new Naval Branch which has now 
been built. He felt it to be his duty. He had 
thought the matter over in all its bearings and finally 
he determined to take up the cross and ask for it 
himself. This was, indeed, a hard thing for him to 
do, for he knew how much Miss Gould was annoyed 
by constant appeals for money. Yet, he felt that, if 
she understood the great need of the work, she would 
be willing to give the necessary funds. Sweetly and 
generously, this noble woman gave her assent to his 
proposition and the result is manifest to all the world. 

The men loved Philip because he loved them. 
When he died, a deep sense of personal loss fell on 
us all. " Our Admiral is dead," said one fine old 



"OUR" ADMIRAL 273 

man-of-war's man to me. He had served under him 
in the Texas and felt his death as a blow to himself. 
No one in civil life knows the depth of affection which 
exists between the truly noble commander and his 
crew. They enshrine him in the most sacred cham- 
bers of their hearts and love him as a brother. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

LAST DAYS. 

As we have already seen, Philip, on his home-com- 
ing from the Spanish war, was received by the Amer- 
ican people with a warmth of affection that has seldom 
been accorded to a naval hero of any nation. So 
great and so sincere — so wide-spread, non-sectarian 
and non-political — was this affection that party lines 
and religious creeds disappeared before it and the 
modest hero was seriously considered as a candidate 
for the governorship of New York by one of the 
great political parties of that state. True to his pro- 
fessional instincts, and consistent with his life-long 
professions, Philip firmly and successfully " squelched 
the boom " at its incipiency. 

Of all the many honors, gifts and " recognitions " 
our hero received on his return from the war, perhaps, 
none was so really acceptable to him as the receipt ot 
a two-volume Bible from the Sunday School children 
of Texas. Philip always was a " man among men." 

274 



SUNDAY SCHOOL CHILDREN 275 

With his fellow officers afloat and civilian associates 
ashore, he stood firmly and unshakably on the solid 
rock of high integrity and honor. He feared none 
and was respected by all. 

There is something about the pure, undesigning 
admiration of children, however, that has always — 
and will always — peculiarly affect the hearts of truly 
great men. Philip was not an exception in feeling 
the Influence of this purest of pure loves and it was 
with eyes dimmed by manly tears that he read this 
inscription ; — 

From the Sunday School children of Texas to 

Captain John Woodward Philip, 

Commander of the battleship Texas, 

In recognition of his bravery and acknowledgment of 

Almighty God — 1898. 

Philip's work in bettering the condition of the New 
York Navy Yard (both in Its material and person- 
nel) has been so amply demonstrated, in quotations 
already given from those most intimately associated 
with him in that difficult undertaking, that further 
commentary Is unnecessary. 

He was promoted to the rank of commodore Au- 
gust 10, 1898, and on December 23d of the same year 
he was ordered to command the New York Navy 
Yard. He entered upon the work of continuing the 



276 LAST DAYS 

great Improvements, begun by his predecessors, with 
that same conscientious, painstaking earnestness (so 
characteristic of the man) that at the hour of his 
death — some eighteen months later — he had the 
satisfaction of knowing that this most Important naval 
station In the United States had been brought to a 
degree of efficiency never before known. 

To all outward appearances Philip seemed In the 
best of health down to a short time before his death; 
but to those close to him he confided his belief that 
his life's cruise was nearly over and that he might soon 
expect to drop anchor In the haven of eternal rest. 

In an Interview granted to the writer, October, 
1899, Rear-Admiral Philip (he having been pro- 
moted to that rank March 3, 1899) very kindly gave 
an outline of his life and Incidents touching on the 
naval battle of Santiago. A few days later, this ma- 
terial was written out In due form and was sent to 
the Admiral for revision and correction. On re- 
ceiving It the hero remarked that It Is very much like 
" reading my own obituary." 

With Indomitable devotion to auty, however, he 
persisted In continuing his work and remained the 
same courteous, Chrlstlanly gentleman to all comers; 
few suspecting, from his cheerful manner, the serious 



FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH 277 

approaches death was making in his siege on his 
health. 

It was on Thursday, June 28, 1900, that Philip 
returned from a visit to Staten Island to his beautiful 
home in the Commandant's residence of the New 
York Navy Yard. For four years he had been suffer- 
ing from heart trouble. At eleven o'clock that night 
he experienced severe pains in his chest. Mrs. Philip 
immediately summoned Medical Director George W. 
Woods from the Navy Hospital and under skilful 
treatment the patient rallied and on Friday he seemed 
to be recovering. Toward evening, however, the dis- 
ease asserted itself in an alarming manner and warn- 
ings of the worst were given. 

Even In these last solemn hours Philip's unselfish- 
ness broke forth like a beacon-light over the stormy 
sea of human ailment. Although none realized bet- 
ter than himself the gravity of his condition, he 
seemed distressed that so many persons were put to 
extra trouble on his account; and his last request was 
that the nurses should be relieved of their tasks as 
soon as possible. 

On Saturday, June 30, Passed-Assistant Surgeon 
Charles E. Riggs (who had been called in consulta- 
tion) saw that the end was near and summoned the 



278 LAST DAYS 

faithful wife from an adjoining room. Mrs. Philip 
started to enter the sick man's chamber and was on 
the threshold when Philip turned so as to face her — 
and died. 

The sad tidings were at once telegraphed to Secre- 
tary Long by Captain Frank Wildes, who was Cap- 
tain of the Yard. The Secretary promptly responded 
with expression of profoundest sympathy, ordering 
the highest military honors for the occasion. Presi- 
dent McKinley, also, sent a personal message of con- 
dolence. 

A death-mask of the hero's features was taken for 
a bronze bust intended for the Naval branch of the 
Y. M. C. A. of which Philip had been the guiding 
spirit in the closing days of his life. 

His body laid in state from eleven o'clock in the 
morning to three o'clock in the afternoon of Monday, 
June 2d, and was viewed by throngs of officers, 
weather-beaten tars and personal friends who had 
learned to love him as few men in the service have 
ever been loved. 

In the afternoon funeral services, conducted by the 
Rev. Dr. Wilton Merle Smith (pastor of the Central 
Presbyterian Church of New York) assisted by Rev. 
Dr. Robert McDonald (of the Washington Avenue 



FUNERAL SERVICES 279 

Baptist Church of Brooklyn), were held in the Com- 
mandant's residence. Eight sailors (seven of whom 
had served under Philip in the Santiago campaign) 
acted as pall-bearers, the honorary bearers being 
Rear-Admiral William Thomas Sampson, Medical 
Director George W. Woods, Pay Director Edwin 
Putnam, Captains Frank Wildes, Henry Clay Taylor, 
and Colby Mitchel Chester, Naval Constructor 
Francis Tiffany Bowles and Major-General Brooke. 

Forming in procession, the cortege left the hero's 
last earthly home and, to the melancholy boom of 
thirteen minute guns, fired from Cob Dock, moved 
down the main street of the Navy Yard and placed 
the body aboard the navy tug Nina. It was then 
carried to Jersey City, whence it was taken by train, in 
charge of a guard of honor, to Annapolis, its final 
resting place. 

On the afternoon of July 3d the Rev. Dr. Smith 
again conducted services over the body, this time in 
the chapel of the Naval Academy — the scene of 
Philip's recent address to the young midshipmen in 
which he so touchingly warned them of the frailties of 
human clay. 

" It was a sorrowful afternoon," said Mr. Mac- 
farland, " but a note of triumph and of abiding joy 



2 8o LAST DAYS 

ran all through it, like the note of victory in Chopin's 
funeral march, so appropriately played by the Naval 
Academy band as the procession marched through the 
grounds from the chapel to the grave." 

The remains were interred, with military honors, 
on the crest of the beautiful cemetery overlooking 
the Naval Academy grounds where Philip fittingly 
sleeps, surrounded in death, as in life, by the noble 
souls whom he loved — awaiting the last roll-call. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

CONCLUSION, 

In presenting this biography of Rear-Admlral 
Philip, the writer has given a record — in essential 
qualities of professional merit and personal worth — 
of many officers who failed to emerge from compara- 
tive obscurity, simply, because they did not have the 
chance. 

Philip was fortunate, not only in the choice but in 
the exigencies of his profession. There have been 
scores and hundreds of men, in the one hundred and 
twenty-five years of our navy's career, who embodied 
all the virtues that can be so unhesitatingly ascribed to 
Philip, but who were denied the opportunity to crys- 
tallize those qualities in the light of public apprecia- 
tion. 

In truth, we may well doubt if Philip's career, ex- 
emplary and elevating as it was, would ever have been 
known outside of the service, were it not for the op- 
portunity he so quickly recognized and embraced in 

281 



282 CONCLUSION 

the naval action of July 3, 1898. In the light of 
Philip's career, we now appreciate the long, dull years 
of faithful and conscientious carrying-on of routine 
through which these officers have plodded — in the 
great majority of cases without the slightest official 
or public recognition save that of slow promotion and 
scanty pay. In fact, it might well be said that the 
only incentive, to men of spirit, to persevere in the 
drudgery of professional duty, is that one hope of 
opportunity some day visiting them. 

It is for this elusive reward that they plod day after 
day, month after month, year after year — checking 
with strong hand the maddening desire to abandon 
the tedious life and seek fields of more engaging ac- 
tivity — in a service of soul-trying monotony. In 
the forty-two years of his service, before opportunity 
came, Philip steadfastly kept the faith and his reward 
was a " good fight " ; the dearest hope of the man-of- 
war's man. A better illustration of the value of 
faithful and conscientious performance of duty, the 
thorough preparedness for " things that might hap- 
pen," during the dreary years of peace, cannot be had. 

He had long schooled himself in this greatest of 
professional arts, namely, that of preparing for ac- 
tivity in times of inactivity. His prompt, unhesitat- 



HIS BROAD-MINDEDNESS 283 

ing, decisive order, " Back both engines hard," when 
a collision between the Texas and Brooklyn seemed 
imminent In the battle of July 3d, was not the off- 
hand, hap-hazard expresion of a commander In the 
heat of an engagement. It was the natural, easy re- 
sult of long years of preparedness for emergencies. 

On the sudden death of Captain Townsend of the 
Wachusett (see p. 184) In China, Philip found him- 
self In a position of command Involving extreme dif- 
ficulties. His ship had been ordered up the Yangtse 
river on a mission of urgency, yet, to proceed, was 
certain death (from river malaria and extreme heat) 
to many of his crew. He promptly took the respon- 
sibility of Ignoring the order, returned to Shanghai 
and then made for the more favorable climate of 
Japan — thereby saving many lives. His assump- 
tion of command in an emergency at a picnic, so in- 
terestingly described by Mr. Rogers In the first edi- 
tion of this work, was but the natural outcome of this 
training. 

Another valuable lesson of Philip's life was his 
broad-mindedness. He did not pretend to know 
everything. He frankly admitted that, while he was 
master of certain details of his profession, there were 
officers about him who excelled In others. We have 



2 84 CONCLUSION 

a striking illustration of this, just before hostilities 
broke out with Spain, In his hearty acceptance of Lieu- 
tenant Haeseler's plan to improve the efficiency of the 
Texas' battery. No commander could have been 
more enthusiastic in his co-operation or more generous 
in properly attributed credit than Philip toward 
Haeseler for the invaluable work done. 

Possibly, the secret of Philip's popularity with all 
who sailed with him was that he never " held in a 
grudge " against a fellow officer — one of the most 
serious mistakes made in the service, and one that 
has, foolishly, led to many a life-long embitterment. 
Quick to resent encroachment or aspersion, Philip al- 
ways was ready to meet, more than half way, the 
slightest overture to forgive and forget. As Admiral 
Higginson well expressed it: " If, unintentionally, 
Philip gave offense, he was always ready to make 
amends for it in the most honest and manly way." 

There is no side of Phihp's character more worthy 
of emulation than his patriotism. Every other senti- 
ment — personal, religious or professional — was 
subject to it. All through his diary of a three years' 
cruise in the East, Philip — while frankly acknowl- 
edging merit among foreigners, when It could be 
found — would manage, somehow or other, to con- 



" IF DUTY REQUIRES IT " 285 

elude with : " We have better in the United States," 
or words to that effect. 

The entry in his diary at Hong Kong, when his 
homeward-bound ship was ordered back to Japan for 
an indefinite stay (a doubly bitter disappointment to 
the young officer), " If duty requires us to go back, 
we will do what our country expects of us, with pleas- 
ure and alacrity," is worthy of preservation among 
the most cherished mottoes of our navy and shows 
conclusively, even at that early age, that he held his 
personal desires absolutely subservient to the call of 
duty. 

Of the sincerity of his religious convictions there is 
no ground for question but even that occupied a place 
second to his patriotism. His observance of the Sab- 
bath as a sacred day was unaffected, yet he never hesi- 
tated to desecrate it when duty called. We remem- 
ber how he used his utmost endeavor to coal ship 
at St. Lucia on a Sunday when British regulations 
prohibited work on that day. We recall how brusque- 
ly he denied Chaplain Tribou's request to hold 
services in the New York on a Sabbath morn at Rio 
de Janeiro, because the entire energy of the ship's 
company (enthusiastically led by Philip) was directed 
to getting her ready for the fight expected on the fol- 
lowing day. 



286 CONCLUSION 

It was Philip who persuaded Sampson to postpone 
his first bombardment of Santiago's fortifications to 
June 6th, because the 5th (the day first set) fell on 
Sunday — and Philip was " dead in earnest " about 
it too. Yet, when Cervera selected that holy day on 
which to make his fatal sortie none of our war ships 
entered into the fight with more zest than the plucky 
Texas. 

Philip's religious fervor — sincere and unquestion- 
able as it was — was very much on the plane of that 
sturdy Presbyterian colonist who became a stanch ad- 
herent of the doctrine of predestination. When 
asked why (if he believed that the day of his death 
had been foreordained) he insisted on carrying a gun 
into the fields to protect himself from a " bad " In- 
dian who had sworn to take his life, he replied : — 

" Yes, but suppose that Indian's time had come and 
I did not have my gun? " 

In short, Philip's religious temperament was like 
that of the Scotchman who, when slapped on one 
cheek " by thine enemy," quite willingly turned the 
other for castigation; after which — having fulfilled 
the letter of Scripture — he took off his coat and 
gave the offender a lively trouncing. 

Never did Philip make his religious professions a 



A CHRIS7IAN GENTLEMAN 287 
lever with which to advance his personal interests; 
and it was only after he had been persuaded that it 
was his duty to do so, that he allowed his name to be 
used in the interest of the benevolent work he carried 
on for sailors. 

Unconsciously, perhaps, he held that the principles 
of his religious belief were superior to all others; that 
they had elevated one man above another, one class 
of men higher than other classes and one nation over 
other nations. While not profound in the disserta- 
tions of comparative theology, he had discovered that 
the honest practice of his own peculiar lihe of precepts 
had proved advantageous to him — morally, phys- 
ically and mentally — and he noted with keen eye 
that men, as a rule, were better in proportion as they 
lived up to those rules. 

He realized that life was a vast, turbulent sea, 
poorly charted and abounding in treacherous shoals. 
Like the mariner leaving port, he had the choice of 
such compasses and navigator's guides as the market 
afforded. For his moral and spiritual guide he se- 
lected that which seemed best suited to his nature. 
He did not preach or advertise his choice before 
others. He recognized that all the good in this 
world was not monopolized by any one creed or sect. 



288 CONCLUSION 

and that all the bad was not shoveled into the corner 
of some outcast schism. But while he was tolerant 
of all and took pains to enlarge on the good that was 
in evidence, wherever found, his own example all 
through life was an eloquent, powerful sermon in 
advocacy of the tenets of his choice — an imperish- 
able monument to that highest type of sea warrior, a 
Christian gentleman. 



SEP 21 1904 





011 448 931 1 # 



